Andrew Bird

★★★★ Inside Problems LOMA VISTA/CONCORD. CD/DL/LP

New songs from prolific US indie singer-songwriter/ violinist/whistler.

Though the title seems to hint at lockdown fever, Bird has worked incessantly in the year since his last album: movie and documentary scores; an ongoing role (Thurman Smutny) in TV series Fargo; and a new album, his 17th, not counting innumerable side projects. Fans, used to his changes of direction, won’t be surprised that this takes a quite different tack to last year’s These 13, his rootsy collaboration with old friend Jimbo Mathus, sparse, dark, sober gospel and folk blues. Working here with a four-piece band (including producer Mike Viola), these 11 songs – several expansive – are often sophisticated indie pop with a lot going on, musically and lyrically (Underlands; Make A Picture). Inside Problems and Eight (featuring fabulous violin) are the most Americanasounding, while the more urban Stop N’ Shop and The Night Before Your Birthday have echoes of Lou Reed.

Sylvie Simmons