DANNY BELL AND HIS DISAPPOINTMENTS “Killing Birds”

Danny Bell and His Disappointments built on the early 1920s mystery nostalgia with accordion-led folk tune, “Killing Birds,” revolving around the traces left behind by a caregiver at an abandoned sawmill. The song carries out a similar wondrous and haunting experience when you visit a ghost town, searching for clues in what was previous residents left behind. But “Killing Birds” is less haunted but warm and glorious as a cultural museum, where the past is preserved and celebrated.

Danny Bell came from a small, blue-collar town in British Columbia. His tunes are characteristically regional. But this creative choice of embracing a smaller sound seems to form a strong connection with listeners. It’s mysterious, artistically witty and grounding. It seems that Danny Bell discovered something invaluable and unique in those seemingly insignificant part of our life. Others are always chasing the next big goals, but Bell returns to the basics and sheds light on the fundamentals of our society and life itself — the past we abandoned, the people we don’t ask for opinions, the towns that stayed nameless, which makes his music so special.

“Killing Birds” may have connected listeners to Danny Bell’s simpler retro folk side with goofy visual aids and bouncy accordions, the artist has established a variety combination of sonic palettes in his past releases. Some of them are rock-infused and messy, while some are warm and laid-back (like “Old Toyota”). The cartoon-like characteristic also seems to have a chemistry when connected to the artist’s cultural roots in “Riverbank.”

Whether this is your first time listening to Danny Bell’s music, he always has something else in store for you to explore. Like a book full of wisdom and surprise, his music is something that can be digested on various occasions and survive time’s decay.