The aspiring amateur ornithologist in me is a little bummed it took so long to discover Bowerbirds. Nine years removed from the former trio's third LP, Philip Moore returns with becalmyounglovers, essentially a solo collection that reflects on the events that have transpired in his life during that interval. Out is Beth Tacular, former accordionist and vocalist, not to mention Moore's ex-partner and the mother of his child. In are songs describing his headspace since their demise.

Last week I wrote that on Genesis Owusu's debut, "There might not be something here for everyone, but damned if it isn't close." Bowerbirds'  becalmyounglovers just may be that remainder. Somewhere between Andrew Bird and Neil Young, Moore continues the acoustic, folky/Americana output of his previous efforts to deliver a record that locks in on one particular sound and aesthetic as much as Owusu sought the potpourri. A study in contrasts, success is the unifying entity found in wildly different shades on two of the better 2021 albums I've heard.