Snorri Hallgrmmsson - Importance of Birds - VINYL LP

Limited colored vinyl LP pressing. After celebrating 20 years since the inception of Author & Punisher in 2024, founding composer, vocalist and mechanical engineer Tristan Shone embraces the project's broadest scope to-date with Nocturnal Birding. In addition to the strong and poignant messaging contained throughout the music, lyrics and artwork, Nocturnal Birding sees Tristan Shone synergizing with an array of artists from across the globe like never before in his career. From the artwork, meticulously designed by French artist Lucile Lejoly (Chat Pile, Roadburn Festival) to the mixing and mastering by Will Putney (Knocked Loose, Heriot, Body Count, Machine Head) to the musical guest appearances from France's Fange, Indonesia's Kuntari, and New York City's Megan Oztrosits of Couch Slut, these outer creative inputs shine throughout the work. Shone has welcomed collaborators in the past, but guitarist Doug Sabolick (Ecstatic Vision, Plaque Marks, A Life Once Lost, etc.) is the first genuine bandmate in Author & Punisher contributing creatively on guitar in ways that shape the persona of Nocturnal Birding, complementing Shone in melody and wrought tonal heft. Removing himself from an artistic comfort zone proved fruitful inspiration. There is literal birdsong all over Nocturnal Birding, and transposing those melodies and rhythms to guitar became the root of the material, representing a rare coming together of the natural world and mechanized sounds.

If there's a defining characteristic of CO singer/songwriter Nathaniel Riley it's that he writes and plays for the sake of the song. In this, he is entirely focused and you can hear that intent. His music is thoughtful, sometimes sparse and sometimes rich in it's soundscape. The beauty that Riley and his collective produced in Bird Songs is the musical reminder that hope and light always shine through times of adversity. The simplicity of the album's 14 songs' intent becomes it's immediate appeal.

Album Tracks 1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was Written-By - Hart, Rodgers 2 34 2. Ornithology Written-By - Harris, Parker 3 26 3. Embraceable You Written-By - Gershwin, Gershwin 2 16 4. Visa Written-By - Charlie Parker 2 57 5. I Cover the Waterfront Written-By - Heyman, Green 1 44 6. Scrapple from the Apple Written-By - Charlie Parker 4 38 7. Star Eyes Written By - Andrew, Speaks 3 05 8. 52nd Street Theme Written-By - Thelonious Monk 1. Confirmation Written-By - Charlie Parker 3 13 2. Out of Nowhere Written-By - Heyman, Green 2 17 3. Hot House Written-By - Tadd Dameron 3 45 4. What's New Written-By - Haggart, Burke 2 43 5. Now's the Time Written-By - Parker 4 15 6. 6A Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Written-By - Kern, Harbach 4 46 7. 6B 52nd Street Theme Written-By - Thelonious Monk