Shearwater: Rook

'Okkervil River' spin-offs 'Shearwater' finally break off all ties with their tributary for album number five in which they showcase the more intimate moments which 'OR' would not allow.

You could be forgiven for thinking that Shearwater frontman Jonathan Meiburg is a tad aloof. Fascinated by ornithology, the singer seems to spend most of the lyrics on "Rook" in a downwards looking perspective. 

With both the band and the album named after species of airborne life as well as songs titled along the lines of "I Was A Cloud" and "Hunter's Star" we must seem like mere parasites on the back of ants.

Yet for all his earth-gazing, the simple truth of "Rook" is that it is perpetually concerned with the condition of humanity. "The ambulance men said there's nowhere to flee for your life / so we stayed inside and we'll sleep until the world of man is paralysed" he sings on the pluralised title-track, seemingly reminding us that mere humanity will come and go, yet the world will continue past our insolent stupidity.

While Okkervil River were more concerned with creating gigantic sounding orchestrations, Shearwater frequently choose to aim for intimately subdued arrangements which throw the focus squarely upon Meiburg's distanced, but thought-provoking lyricism. 

Perhaps his vocals could be considered an acquired taste for they are instantly the object of attention. His faltering falsetto is the go-to tone of the album, but on tracks such as "The Snow Leopard" they hit a considerably stronger stride, completely decimating any doubters throughout its surging chorus.

The decision to focus on this band full-time was clearly the right one for Meiburg, for while his former band with likely be forever more popular, Shearwater will be eminently more beloved by those drawn to its accessible charms.