March Fires

Birds of Tokyo began recording their fourth studio album in February 2012,{{cite news |title= Birds of Tokyo Finished Writing | url=https://www.facebook.com/birdsoftokyomusic/posts/10150572035677840 |via=Facebook |date=1 February 2012 |accessdate=1 February 2012 }} which mostly took place in Los Angeles, California. The band recorded over a six-month period, lasting until July. Kingsize Studio and the Hobby Shop in Eagle Rock, along with the Sound Factory and Oceanway Studios in Hollywood hosted these sessions. A final weeklong session was conducted in October 2012 at the Hoop Hut in Sydney, before the album was completed, later that month.{{cite AV media notes |title=March Fires |others=Birds of Tokyo |date=2013 |type=liner notes |publisher=EMI}} March Fires is the first album to feature bassist Ian Berney, after founding member and previous bassist Anthony Jackson left the band.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3169415.htm|title=Birds of Tokyo bassist flies the coop|date=21 March 2011|publisher=Triple J|accessdate=23 March 2011}}

The artwork for March Fires and its singles was created by Australian graphic designer, art director, and album artist Leif Podhajsky. His work explores themes of connectedness, love, fear, magic, the relevance of nature, and psychedelic or altered experiences, and uses techniques such as pattern, recursion, balance, symmetry, and repetition.{{cite news|title=Leif Podhajsky, the Man Behind the Album Cover|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/alistair-hardaker/leif-podhajsky-album-artwork-_b_1423037.html|work=HuffPost|accessdate=21 July 2012}} By utilizing these subjects, he attempts to "coerce the viewer into a realignment with themselves and their surroundings".{{cite web|title=Leif Podhajsky – About|url=http://leifpodhajsky.com/ABOUT|publisher=Leif Podhajsky|accessdate=21 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127182511/http://leifpodhajsky.com/ABOUT|archive-date=27 January 2013}} Podhajsky's work has been described as "striking abstractions of nature – mirrored vistas, engulfing waves, rippling, melting cosmic landscapes". He had previously worked with other bands on albums such as the Vines', Future Primitive (2011) and Tame Impala's Innerspeaker (2010) and Lonerism (2012).{{cite web|title=Innerspeaker album art|url=http://leifpodhajsky.com/TAME-IMPALA-INNERSPEAKER|website=leifpodhajsky.com|accessdate=7 May 2012}}

"This Fire" was released as the lead single from March Fires on 5 October 2012. An accompanying EP, featuring the album track "Boy" and the B-side "Glowing in the Streets", along with a March Fires cut entitled "The Lake", was also issued the same day.{{cite web|title=This Fire – EP|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/this-fire-ep/id562535939|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810130357/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/this-fire-ep/id562535939|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2013|work=iTunes AU|accessdate=29 April 2013}} The music video was published the day before, on 4 October 2012.{{cite web|title= Birds of Tokyo – This Fire – official video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSpwcAvoo2o|work=birdsoftokyo|via=YouTube|accessdate=29 April 2013}}

"Lanterns" was released as the second single from the album on 14 January 2013.{{cite web|title=Lanterns – Single|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/lanterns-single/id588335162|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110065725/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/lanterns-single/id588335162|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2014|work=iTunes AU|accessdate=29 April 2013}} It has since become Birds of Tokyo's most successful single, peaking at number three on the Australian singles chart, the band's first top-ten single. It was also number one on the ARIA Australian artist singles chart for a total of nine weeks.{{cite web|title=Birds of Tokyo – Lanterns|url=http://acharts.us/song/75525|publisher=acharts.us|accessdate=29 April 2013}} Additionally, the song was certified platinum, having sold over 70,000 copies in Australia. The music video debuted on 17 January 2013 and was shot in Sydney.{{cite web|title=Birds of Tokyo – Lanterns – Official Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbJ3vacGOhw|work=birdsoftokyo|via=YouTube|accessdate=29 April 2013}}

"When the Night Falls Quiet" was promoted to Australian contemporary hit radio on 21 April 2013 as the third single from March Fires.{{cite web|title=Birds of Tokyo – When the Night Falls Quiet|url=https://soundcloud.com/birds-of-tokyo/when-the-night-falls-quiet|work=Birds of Tokyo|publisher=SoundCloud|accessdate=29 April 2013}} An accompanying music video debuted on the same day.{{cite web|title=Birds of Tokyo – When the Night Falls Quiet – Official Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oLOLbwvK6c|work=birdsoftokyo|via=YouTube|accessdate=29 April 2013}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Rip It Up

| rev1score = 4.5/5{{cite web|last=Lyon|first=Rob|title=Birds of Tokyo: March Fires|url=http://www.ripitup.com.au/music/article/birds-of-tokyo-march-fires-review|publisher=Rip It Up|accessdate=29 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130627221525/http://www.ripitup.com.au/music/article/birds-of-tokyo-march-fires-review|archive-date=27 June 2013}}

| rev2 = The Sydney Morning Herald

| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Palmer|first=Sean|title=March Fires|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/march-fires-20130306-2fl81.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=29 April 2013}}

| rev3 = Tom Magazine

| rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|title=Albums – Birds of Tokyo: March Fires|url=http://www.tommagazine.com.au/2013/02/23/birds-of-tokyo-march-fires/|website=Tom Magazine|accessdate=29 April 2013}}

| rev4 = The West Australian

| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Simon|title=Review: March Fires|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/movies/16376358/review-march-fires/|newspaper=The West Australian|accessdate=29 April 2013}}

}}

March Fires received generally positive reviews. Sean Palmer of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the album a four-star review, stating that "March Fires is a gem and channels emotion but never to the point of nausea, leaving you feeling comfortable in the pleasant tones of a band that know what they are doing." He noted the stylistic similarities of the album to the band's previous work and wrote, "There is nothing here to shock or bewilder unless you are expecting Birds of Tokyo to return to their alt-rock origins with a hardened edge. If that's the case, you will be in for a jolt of disappointment, as beneath Kenny's words there is an astounding sense of positivity – as though one can climb that mountain, fix that bridge or restore faith." Simon Collins of The West Australian gave the album three stars, writing, "Synth-laden mid-album tracks "The Others" and "White Leaves" briefly revive listeners, before they are plunged into a downbeat run home to "Hounds"."

Rob Lyon of Adelaide street magazine Rip It Up wrote, "While this album has proved a popular move into a different direction for frontman Ian Kenny and his Birds, I hope they don't completely abandon their rock roots." in response to the light departure from the band's previous works. He praised the album as a singular piece, writing that "From start to end the album is a solid listening experience, offering more with every additional spin. The strength of March Fires is its consistency and how well it all hangs together, with nothing appearing out of place or disappointing. Some may focus on how much the songs sound the same, but for me this one is about taking in the whole experience rather than selected moments."

Tom Noyse of The Music gave the album a positive review, writing, "This newfound experimentation from Birds of Tokyo is fully apparent and it hits hard. The production is quite immaculate and is near the best they have yet created. March Fires is absolutely brilliant." Like other reviewers, he also noted the band's musical evolution and light departure from their previous works: "Progression is inevitable. To evolve in music, you need to keep ideas fresh and move forward. This is truly evident in the fourth album by Perth-bred alternative rockers Birds of Tokyo."{{cite magazine|title=Album – Birds of Tokyo – March Fires|url=http://themusic.com.au/reviews/album/2013/03/25/birds-of-tokyo-march-fires-tom-noyes/|magazine=The Music|accessdate=29 April 2013}} Nick Linde of Tom Magazine also gave the album a positive review and also touched upon the difference of sound March Fires presented, writing, "The new album from West Australian band Birds of Tokyo has a little bit of old and a little bit of new." He noted that "March Fires delivers a strong anthemic feel, coupled with the sound from the band that has taken off over the last few years."

All songs are written and composed by Ian Berney, Ian Kenny, Glenn Sarangapany, Adam Spark, and Adam Weston.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Liquid Arms

| length1 = 3:53

| title2 = This Fire

| length2 = 4:47

| title3 = When the Night Falls Quiet

| length3 = 4:01

| title4 = Motionless

| length4 = 1:11

| title5 = Lanterns

| length5 = 4:22

| title6 = The Others

| length6 = 4:45

| title7 = White Leaves

| length7 = 7:49

| title8 = Blume

| length8 = 2:38

| title9 = Boy

| length9 = 5:00

| title10 = Sirin

| length10 = 5:18

| title11 = Hounds

| length11 = 3:41

}}

Adapted from the March Fires liner notes:

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Birds of Tokyo

• Ian Kenny – vocals, lyrics
• Adam Spark – guitars, keyboards, vocals
• Ian "White Goods" Berney – bass guitar
• Glenn Sarangapany – keyboards, synthesisers, vocals
• Adam Weston – drums, percussion

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Other personnel

• Dave Cooley – producer
• Doug Boehm – engineer
• Hugo Nicholson – engineer
• Kristian Riley – additional engineer and editing
• Andrew Lynch – additional engineer
• Jared Hirshland – additional engineering and editing
• Chris Claypool – mix assistant
• Bryan Hall – guitar tech
• Leif Podhajsky – design and artwork
• Kane Hibberd – band photography

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{{certification Table Entry|type = album|region = Australia|artist = Birds of Tokyo|title = March Fires |award=Platinum|certyear=2014}}

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Category:2013 albums

Category:Birds of Tokyo albums

Category:EMI Records albums