FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise IA11 Edition

EDITORIAL REVIEWS jaimie branch’s FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise, originally released in the fall of 2019, was hugely anticipated in its time. A year before that, following the success of her first Fly or Die album, branch whisked her incredible quartet across Europe where they stretched their songbook to its limit, improvising en modo deconstructivo, tugging at the music’s edges and relentlessly morphing the sound of a four-fold liberation machine that included branch (trumpet), Chad Taylor (drums), Jason Ajemian (bass), and newcomer Lester St. Louis (cello), who had recently replaced Tomeka Reid. The continued rise of branch’s star coincided with an increasingly deep connection to International Anthem as the label formed tighter and tighter bonds with friends across the pond, particularly in London, where most of bird dogs of paradise was recorded (in studio at Total Refreshment Centre over three days in November 2018, and live at Café OTO over two nights that same week). FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise also introduced the wider world to branch’s singing voice. “So much beauty lies in the abstract of instrumental music,” branch says in the album’s original notes, “but being this ain’t a particularly beautiful time, I’ve chosen a more literal path. The voice is good for that.” The IA11 Edition of FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise comes on classic black 140-gram vinyl LP inside a heavyweight reverse-board jacket, with a 16-page 11x11" insert booklet with previously-unpublished photos two sets of new liner notes (the first by jaimie’s mom Soledad “Sally” Branch, and the second by Jason Ajemian), IARC 2025 obi strip and printed poly-lined inner-sleeve. Pressed at Pallas in Germany, with lacquers cut by Daniel K at SST. A1. birds of paradise A2. prayer for amerikkka pt. 1 & 2 A3. lesterlude A4. twenty-three n me, jupiter redux A5. whales B1. simple silver surfer B2. bird dogs of paradise B3. nuevo roquero estéreo B4. love song