Colin McDonald
Staff Reporter
Mother Falcon is a band that has the size and instrumentation of a symphony, but the energy and hooks of a rock band. Hailing from Austin, Texas, the ambitious group–which can have anywhere from 11 to 20 members on any given night, aims to be the bridge between classical and modern pop music.
The group formed in 2008 with bandleader, vocalist, cellist and mandolinist Nick Gregg and other members of the Red Armada String Quartet, a high school ensemble. Over the years, the band grew and grew to encompass a wide and often rotating cast of musicians playing strings, guitars, horns and percussion.
Their 2011 debut Alhambra hit a high note with critics, being praised on their creativity and songwriting skills. The band would later expand their sound in their 2013 sophomore release, You Knew. The album demonstrates their masterful craftsmanship, utilizing their massive band size but not overembellishing the songs. You never know what to expect from Mother Falcon, as their songs are constantly shifting in tone. such as Marigold, whose dynamic layers of strings create a punk rock-like energy. Or the soft acoustic guitars on Porcelain, complete with guitarist and vocalist Claire Puckett’s angelic voice. Another example would be the raucous brass and galloping rhythm section of Dirty Summer, that could get anyone moving. On paper, none of these songs should go together, but their clever combinations of symphonic music, pop, folk, indie and even jazz provide the listener with a unique experience and catchy melodies they will hum for weeks.
Of course, holding oneself to be a bridge between two seemingly incompatible genres seems like a very high expectation, but You Knew meets that expectation with flying colors. The album creates a cinematic atmosphere in new ways, which is impressive. Its opener, Pink Stallion, begins innocently with a quiet, pizzicato violin intro, which then crescendos into a chorus that screams at the listener with vocal harmonies, energetic percussion, and layers on top of layers of strings, horns and guitars. The gentle trills of Sleep, the unsettling sounds of My Majesty of Madness, and the pseudo-psychedelic I Dream of Water display the band’s flexible sound. With their fun and distinctive songwriting, it’s no wonder how this band grew such a loving fanbase and a name with critics.
Image credits: Mother Falcon, NPR
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