Stray Birds - Magic Fire (CD)

Magic Fire is the first project with an outside producer, their first recording with venerable guest musicians, and first truly collaborative songwriting effort. It's also an album of mosts: the most exciting and engaging music they've ever composed paired with their most outspoken and insightful lyrics yet. Another first for the album: NPR premiered the first single from the album, ""Shining In The Distance."" Magic Fire demonstrates the group's remarkable growth as songwriters and performers, with countless nights on the road across the US and Europe sharpening their senses and honing their keen understanding of each other's strengths. ""Third Day In A Row"" is a laid-back slice of infectious Americana that showcases the band's rich harmonies; while ""Hands Of Man"" is a dark, Appalachian-influenced tune completed during the recording sessions in Milan Hill. ""Where You Come From"" marks Charles Muench's first complete songwriting contribution to an album, while ""Shining In The Distance"" is a collaboration with fellow songwriter Lindsay Lou that grew out of Maya and Oliver's move to Nashville, and ""When I Die"" features a verse written by new collaborator Shane Leonard (live versions of the song include a variety of additional verses contributed by peers and tour-mates like Mandolin Orange, Miss Tess, Jordie Lane, and Cahalen Morrison & Eli West).