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Birdie Hilltop: Surround the Birthday
[Frigital]

Ever wonder what Connor Oberst would sound like if he were an eight year-old hailing from Pennsylvania? Well, Birdie Hilltop a.k.a. Pascal Troemel might just be your answer. Two years worth of bedroom recordings by Troemel have been compiled into Surround the Birthday, a tiny little album lasting less than half an hour. In this small space, Troemel creates eleven miniscule compositions with xylophones and toy pianos, not to mention his own diminutive voice.

Songs like Looking for Your Hat and Megaphone display melodies that recall Dean Warehams guitar work in Galaxie 500. Although lo-fi to a fault, Troemel sounds similar to a lesser-developed Connor Oberst. Elsewhere on the album, one can catch glimpses of early Elliot Smiths lonesome ramblings.

Still, there is one distinct problem manifesting itself throughout Surround the Birthday. As I have hinted at comparisons to young and early versions of artists, it has not been completely charitable. Troemel is lacking in originality and development of his own ideas. Furthermore, Birdie Hilltop has taken the idea of bedroom recording to such an extreme that the vocals often fade into the background or sound as if they are coming from the inside of a distant metal trash bin. Lyrical abstraction, emotion, and perspicacity are all lacking as well. Regardless, the seeds have been planted, and Birdie Hilltop has immense promise. Lets hope that times on their side.

This album can be purchased at Frigital Records

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