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The liberated abandon of Wildbirds & Peacedrums' primitive soul music strikes an immediate and invigorating chord, as anyone who has seen them over the past year will attest. With "The Snake", they deliver an adrenalin shot of passion straight to the heart, with songs that draw on anger and frustration as well as the life-affirming ardour that propels their music. Improbable recipients of the prestigious Jazz In Sweden 2008 prize, Mariam and Andreas used their winnings to record at the Soundtrack Of Our Lives - owned Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg. Vocals and drums were brilliantly recorded live to tape, and the spontaneity of the resulting album captures the intense bond between the couple, while expanding their sonic palette to include steel drum, piano, xylophone, marimba, Rhodes and more. Mariam's uninhibited vocal expressions are matched by the kinetic sparks of Andreas' percussion. "Chain Of Steel" has a racing rhythm that flares into yelps of vocal anguish, while the album's first single "There Is No Light" channels the primeval spirit of rock'n'roll (and showcases Andreas' breathtaking drumming style). "The Snake" is balanced by slower, more resonant pieces such as the slowly unfurling opener "Island" and the eastern-tinged "So Soft So Pink". The album culminates in "My Heart", a wonderfully uplifting seven minutes that blossom into a full-blown gospel anthem, and feature Mariam's haunting, addictive refrain: 'I'm lost without your rhythm'.