31. Single Review of Ornithology by Sprawler FU
Originally published on August 18th, 2024
About the Artist
Sprawler FU is a British-Dutch singer/songwriter and producer. She epitomizes what it means to be an independent artist. Once a member of a progressive rock band, she now creates and performs her music all on her own. She even recently produced a music video using her iPhone on a $0 budget. She gets inspiration from artists like Tori Amos, Björk, and St. Vincent. Her sound is a style that would be applicable today all the way back to the 1980’s.
About the Song
Ornithology is a experimental pop song with a run time of just over three and a half minutes. It was released July 19, 2024. It was performed and produced by Sprawler FU. The sound is heavily influenced by a fantasy atmosphere, reminiscent of Medusa by Annie Lennox.
About the Music
Ornithology is primarily a synthetic/electronic work. It demonstrates superior production quality by its composer between the programming of the percussion, bass parts, and the syth parts that supplement the musical melodies. Vocally, Sprawler FU has layered parts all delivering a fluid, atmospheric performance that blends together wonderfully. It stylistically applies to todays music but, as I mentioned before, could have been a hit in the 90’s era anarchy pop music.
About the Lyrics
Lyrically, the author has given us more fantasy-driven product, delivery line after line of analogy driven story. Deriving from a concept of being separated from a migration, the lyrics tell a story of a person trapped. “There’s a tangle in the undergrowth. Cos’ my heart got stuck trying to free itself.”
The next line was interesting: “We made a pact 30 years on I’d wear the ring if there was no one else. But there was no one else.” So, this tells me that the protagonist isn’t deliberately being held hostage by another person. It is more incidental, as the protagonist is struggling to move on from a past relationship.
What I love about the lyrics here is the reference back to ornithology. In some instances, the protagonist speaks as a person observing birds flying through their window, watching them build nests, and watching them migrate. Then, the protagonist speaks as though they are part of the flock, but unable to join them as they are “tangled in the trees,” and also a focused observation nest being built as “a woody mess,” and a “tangled mess.”
Final Thoughts
I absolutely have no notes for this song. I love the style, the production, and the lyrics. It is a sound that could cross the planes of several genres, including rock, pop, and techno. Sprawler FU’s vocal performance is spot on; both lyrically and musically. This song particularly reminds me of another British artist I have made a couple of references to, Bat For Lashes. The fantasy influence over the unique and fluid percussion is such an interesting sound. Sprawler FU had another release in March that is just as interesting. If you have a moment, also listen to Where the Light Falls. There are very interesting arpeggiated synths that really give life to the song. It is very difficult to bring life to purely electronic or programmed songs. Sprawler FU has fearlessly taken this challenge on and she has come out victorious.
Once again, I encourage all of you to like, follow, and subscribe to Sprawler FU! Don’t forget to check out her music video on YouTube and be on the lookout for new music!
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