World-weary vocals from New England’s Chuck Melchin, The Bluest Sky project, in fitting tribute to his recently passed brother Bill.
Birdland is the fourth album by New England line-up The Bluest Sky, built around the songs of Chuck Melchin, long of the Bean Pickers Union. Previous releases The Bluest Sky, Raindancer and most recently the six-song 2025 mini album Homegrown, have all been favourably reviewed on our pages, and Birdland proves to be a worthy successor.
The ten songs on Birdland are an eclectic mix, and paying tribute to his brother Bill, who passed away early this year, Melchin writes: “More than an inspiration, he was the person most responsible for my interest/obsession with music at a very young age (who) had eclectic taste and a record collection to match. From Deep Purple to John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, I was exposed to a wide spectrum of musical styles and genres which I believe continues to inform my own music today. Maybe you can hear the influence in Birdland. This one’s for you, Bill.”
At the core of the band’s sound is electric country rock, as on opening track Magpie, a mid-tempo rocker, with a powerful riff, and B3 organ, with a moodiness too, as Melchin sings “Magpie sitting on a fence post/ Loose dog in the field/ If you don’t know about loneliness/ This is how it feels”.
Moodiness is to the fore too on Isabella, a brooding tale of mystery and loss, “She was born in New York city Her mother came from Mexico/ Her father won her in a card game/ Or so the story goes/She was different from the others/ In her demeanor and her clothes/ Never saw someone so beautiful/Didn’t know the people that she knows/ Isabella can you ask her/ Why she never noticed me/ If I stammer, if I stutter/ Will she forgive me please”.
Love and loss are recurring themes, as on title track Birdland, which features classic Texas twang guitar, the levity of its style belying its lyrics “Every day you seem further than the last time/ I felt you slipping through my hands/ Every day the mountain seems a little steeper/ But this bird has got to land”, before an instrumental section with an Allman-esque twin lead guitar melodic motif.
And The Finish Line has a great opening line: “At the finish line it was too close to call/ Between the jealousy and the alcohol,” before the punch line “How can you be happy without me?”
On White Belly Bird Melchin, playing acoustic guitar and mandolin, teams up with long-time Bean Pickers Union collaborator Jess Fox playing an octave violin that she built herself, and a lyric inspired by visiting Georgia O’Keefe’s New Mexico territory, “Georgia O’Keeffe stole light like a thief/ A moment in time, poignant and sublime/ Same philosophy but with lyrics for me/ Capture what you see before you let free”.
Melchin’s characterful vocals provide a common thread throughout the collection, with other credited collaborators including Andy Santospago on electric guitar, pedal steel, and resonator, Jen Gunderman (The Jayhawks, Sheryl Crow) on Hammond B3 and piano, Lynne Taylor on harmony vocals, and Dave Westner on drums and bass.
Birdland is a fine album which grows with each listen, one you’ll return to for sure.
