Firebird Union – Higher Ground (2023)
A true labour of love decades in development, Firebird Union is the transatlantic electronic indie band of brothers Ross and Matt Churchill. I am cautious to call the Churchill brothers veterans in the music industry, but with the wealth of industry knowledge and experience each have I feel validated. After performing together in Ceder, part of the Watford scene alongside Lower Than Atlantis and The Staves, Ross and Matt honed an experimental, eclectic brand of music. In 2008, the pair split one heading to the US and the other remaining in the UK. Jump ahead several years and the Churchill brothers transcend space and time as Firebird Union.
Individually, Matt and Ross Churchill flourished as industry professionals with each receiving critical acclaim on various publications, radio stations, and playlists. Co-founder of electronic duo Pariis Opera House, Ross has received praise on an international scale, as well as soundtracking TV shows, collaborating with acts like Jake Gosling, and being supported by artists like Zane Lowe and Edith Bowman. Matt gigged extensively in London, released a collaborative EP with Roberto Cappellina and Minnie Birch, and performed at fundraising events for Watford charities.
While the brothers release their debut single ‘Higher Ground’ in 2023, the lads have been writing music together all their lives. Coming together with their diverse skills and experience, Ross and Matt create a melting pot of funk, disco, pop and indie pop in ‘Higher Ground’. Chaotic from the outset but with a mellifluous underbelly, ‘Higher Ground’ is what happens when you dip your head into a sonic whirlpool, open your eyes and feel the kaleidoscopic goo stick to your face. A swirl of sound, the lads are off-kilter, to say the least. Synth-driven beats punctuate the melody while a funky bass brings a disco-inspired sexiness to the song. Lying somewhere between old-school disco and 90s electropop, ‘Higher Ground’ is nostalgic with a brash beat of modern-day synths.
Intimate and flowing, the melody can hold its own as a soothing masterpiece; however, the chaotic disco soundscape captures the intensity of the existential concern of an “impending apocalypse against the colossal backdrop of time running out…” This perfect expression of overwhelming fear and frustration, ‘Higher Ground’ proves that Firebird Union must be felt, not heard.
For more from Firebird Union, check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
