Amateur Ornithologist

North East artist Daniel Clifford returns with his second album of melodic, harmony-filled, new wave pop.

The album is the culmination of a year of single releases - Hermit Phase, I Told A Lie, A Better Person and Sunscreen - that have received airplay from BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and a host of great community and online stations. Reviewers describe an "artful pop extravaganza" (Find No Enemy) with "striking and authentic" vocals (Phonogram Me) that mean "you can't help but smile from the very start" (NARC).

Building the Bird  finds Daniel in reflective mood, looking at his experiences in a new light while exploring an autism diagnosis. Two laidback tracks, A Better Person and Slip Away, focus on his relationships with his parents, while the opening stomper Promises and minimal synthpop closer The Willows bookend the album with tracks looking at different sides of romance - starting with a wailing tale of divorce and ending on an intimate portrait of love. Singles Hermit Phase and I Told A Lie examine how Daniel's reactions to everyday life differ greatly from his friends and peers.

On 2021's Birdwatching, Amateur Ornithologist presented a suite of mid-paced indiepop music, while Building the Bird introduces both punkier and mellower sides of the North East musician. Like An Amateur sees multi-layered Beach Boys-style harmonies blended with off-kilter synth sounds while Weird Walking dispenses with guitars to build a track around pounding tom drums, and melodic woodwind and string lines. The collection of tones and atmospheres makes for a rewarding listen and leaves Amateur Ornithologist with a host of options for future releases.

Building the Bird features a number of rising stars from across the North East music scene. In-demand producer Harbourmaster (District Attorney) returns to the control desk following his work on 2021's Birdwatching, while also providing guitars and bass, as well as drums on two tracks. Matt Hardy (Lovely Assistant) performs drums and percussion on eight tracks. Bringing a new dimension not explored on Amateur Ornithologist's debut, electro musician Madeleine Smyth offers up a range of moods and textures on viola across the album, and Thomas Dixon (Dilutey Juice) plays lyrical saxophone on two tracks.

Building the Bird will release on 21st October across all major digital platforms, and on limited edition cassette and CD from the Amateur Ornithologist Bandcamp. To coincide with the album release, a 16-page zine Building the Bird Instruction Manual will be published featuring song lyrics, art and behind-the-scenes articles from Daniel, producer Harbourmaster and artist Jenny Rohde.