TUNE-YARDS at The Ruby Lounge, Manchester 13/02/10 February 13, 2010

tUnE-yArDs is the singular musical project of New England native Merrill Garbus. Possessing an expansive sound that marries a coarse folk ingenuity with the bold pop sensibility of an R&B siren, BiRd-BrAiNs was assembled with a staunch DIY aesthetic.

Recording herself using a digital voice recorder and assembled using shareware mixing software, she was described by Stereogum as “a self-contained Sublime Frequencies compilation, jumping between blues, African tunes, shiny reggae-esque sprawls, and lo-fi folk”, infusing the worldly sonic palette of M.I.A. or post-punk pioneers The Raincoats.

DIS (on Bird Brains): in the case of tUnE-YaRdS’ Merril Garbus, the use of lo-fi is brilliantly unpredictable, and conversely becomes an artefact of music technology’s accessibility – it was recorded using only shareware programmes and a digital voice recorder.

BBC: It’s a lo-fi tale par excellence.

MusicOMH: Garbus can often disturb and surprise - and it is hard to escape the sense in which this is a very real, personal and sometimes stark portrayal of aspects of her life - which doesn't make for an album that is an easy, straightforward or relaxing listen. If you relish a challenge, and like music to brace you as much as entertain you, then this should fit the bill. Like no-one else very much, but very much herself, it is one woman's raw, open and compelling testament. 8/10