There are certain albums that effortlessly evoke a feeling of a happy, carefree existence. 'Birds Gotta Fly' is one such LP, its largely upbeat songs blending many flavours, genres and styles and peppered with haunting, intelligent violin arrangements.
From the atmospheric, mellow title track, Dr Robert guides us through blues, funk, rock 'n' roll and even a bit of jazz, ending on the gloriously caustic, frivolous, oompah-led hate song, 'A Little Song'.
It is hard to choose standout tracks from an album that fits so well together, but the gloriously lazy 'The Nearly Room', is one of the best. The laid back song drips with fading sunshine and the promise of warm summer nights as does the dusty road feel of 'Sycamore Tree'. It's a bluesy, rootsy harmonica-based slab of pure rock 'n' roll that is bound to get your foot tapping and your head nodding.
The good doctor has a voice which brings warmth to all of the styles present on this album but it's on the uncomplicated love song 'Still Got A Lot To Learn' that he really shines. It's a song that can reach in and warm even the coldest of hearts.
Sure, there's bleeps and some wonderful arrangements, but this is an album that takes music back to basics. Purely and simply, this is feelgood music of the highest calibre which deserves to live on your stereo for at least the whole of this summer.
