Review: “The Birds Know” by Nobody

“This is dedicated to all the xenophobes: the ones who hate and fear those who look different, act different or speak differently. It is also an homage to Mali and the ancient Mandinka kingdom whose musicians appropriated the instruments of the gods and introduced them to mankind.” ~ Tuomas Kauppinen

Having spent the past six years as a prolific solo artist performing Finnish Dark Folk music as Nobody, multi instrumentalist and vocalist Tuomas Kauppinen has broken with tradition and welcomed guest is bassist Eliel Norkola-Smith to perform on three of the four songs that comprise his new record “The Birds Know“. The follow up to December 2025’s “Jesus Ain’t Cumming” will no doubt still find him playing guitars, bass, drums and even a harmonica or tambourine and if it’s half as good as that record then it’s going to be a really interesting listen.

Once again returning to the kind of acoustic murder ballad with which he has made his name “You Don’t Know Them” has echoes of Johnny Cash, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds or the acoustic songs from Wednesday 13 with an almost ethnic quality to the acoustic guitars, bass and what sounds like a tambourine. As always the lyrics have a dark satirical quality to them as Kauppinen offers the warnings of a soothsayer with the voice of a crooner, his smooth almost conversational singing style warm with gentle phrasing which is enticing. It’s the subtlety of his voice that makes the lyrics more thought provoking, all of which is part of the charm.

You can’t help but crack a smile at “You Don’t Get To Love” as Kauppinen creates a Louisiana Blues like soundscape while warning of the consequences of the actions of being xenophobe with an undercurrent of being politically charged and socially aware. Subtle enough that the lyrical narrative could apply to anyone but deliberate enough that anyone in the current climate will know just the kind of person he’s singing about. “Drugs And Gods” changes the approach as occult ritual makes way for sins being redeemed with medication as the pharmaceutical industry become gods who lead us through the valley of death. If you read into it then you might follow a path that leads you to conspiracy theories about how the industry wants to keep the cash coming in by creating addicts but that’s entirely optional. If you so desire you can disengage and enjoy it for what it is, a dark folk song of the highest calibre.

Last but by no means least “Incognito” is a tale of seduction that leads to adultery and murder with wonderful storytelling and tasteful solo. Arguably the catchiest song Kauppinen has ever written, it may well have you singing along with the words “yours… til the grave!” even on the first spin. Another masterclass from a musician who knows how to create simple perfection, this may not win any awards but it sure as hell should [8/10]

Track Listing

1. You Don’t Know Them
2. You Don’t Get To Love
3. Drugs And Gods
4. Incognito

“The Birds Know” by Nobody is out 12th November 2026 via Inverse Records and is available over at bandcamp