Orchards is a band that, as they claim themselves, is stuck between 1994 and 2004 and blends the music of early Arcade Fire and some other infected with experimental music bands from US/Canada. And they create an uncanny atmosphere.
Gothic indie starts from, obviously, strings preparing us for the following unsettling compositions. "Grandfather" amazed me with keys in the background and surprisingly clear drums, but the main force in both, the first and next tracks, are strings that draw attention, set the not-too-fast pace, and create ridiculously dark atmosphere American gothic style. Also the songs' titles can hardly leave any doubt where we are - "The Vulture", "Black Lake", "New Horse". But the moody and dark climax is reached in "At Night" in which dark guitars and lamenting vocal sound as if taken from a good horror movie.
No wonder that on their Bandcamp website you can read that the album is "delving into the darkest depths of your soul".
"A Shallow Birth" costs 7 USD.