Useless Creatures ("Noble Beast" Bonus Tracks)

Useless Creatures ("Noble Beast" Bonus Tracks)

Initially released as the bonus disc of 2009’s Noble Beast, Useless Creatures is a nine-song instrumental collection from Andrew Bird that shows what an excellent whistler he has become. His main instrument is violin and it’s that rich instrument that comes creaking out of the various modes. “Master Sigh” is an elemental beginning, sparse but with promise of wilder passages. Sure enough, Bird whistles in the wind as the sound of worry hits the air. “You Woke Me Up!” builds the tension for more than seven minutes, whereas the classical-meets-cartoon music vibe leads to the backyard shuffle of “Nyatiti,” and the whistler shows his most carefree side. “The Barn Tapes” plows through the land of Brian Eno. “Carrion Suite” carries a sense of mourning through more than nine minutes. “Spinney” is the pony race that sprints for 45 seconds before hitting the creaking floorboards in the attic for “Dissent.” “Hot Math” strikes up the band for Afro-pop, while “Sigh Master” inverts the beginning passage to end this journey.

Featured On

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada