This Is Fire is the third release from the all-female Illinois Freak Folk band Spires That in the Sunset Rise. Since 2001 the band has released 5 albums and gone on quite a few tours. I'm not quite sure what the artwork for this album is depicting, but I still find it very fitting with the whole sound of the album and I quite like it. They manage to get a wonderfully trippy, psychedelic atmosphere. The wonderful hypnotic vocals and droning instruments give them their very interesting texture.
Another thing that helps them accomplish this is their wide array of instruments, from a mbira to something called a bowed psaltery, their eclectic instrumentation gives them equally eclectic sounds. They also obtain a vintage sound, like those of freak folk or even some krautrock bands of the past, it's quite nice. All of the songs have an almost eerie, ghostly, sound which attributes to the albums sound, it almost sounds like a bad trip, but in the best way. "Morning Song" has this ritualistic chant throughout most of this song. I really can't emphasize enough how great of a texture this album has. It feels like you're being hypnotized and taken to roam a desert, it certainly does have an arid and primitive yet spiritual and ethereal sound to it due to the exotic instruments, the tribal sounding drumming, and those mesmerizing vocals, which range from swooping, droning singing to chanting. My favorite tracks from the album are either the more lively and enthralling "Let the Crows Fly" or the spooky and still somehow soothing "Morning Song." Actually all of the tracks are spooky and eerie, but all of them still manage to be soothing at the same time, it's quite magical. I would recommend this album to any fans of Freak Folk, this is a hella overlooked album, if you enjoy Big Blood or Fire on Fire you'll certainly love this. Even if you didn't I would still recommend that you give this gem a chance.
I become aware of what this air feeds
This is fire
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