Label: 4AD
Release: 1988
Style: Post Punk
FLAC: 349 Mb
mp3, CBR, 320 Kbps: 137 Mb






Tracklisting:

1 King Of Soul (4:02)
Backing Vocals - Lorna Wright , Ruby James

2 Raintime (4:39)
Cello - Audrey Riley
Viola - Chris Pitsillides
Violin - Gini Ball , Sonia Slany

3 Bottom Drawer (4:42)

4 Kansas (3:53)
Backing Vocals - Ruby James

5 Swing Like A Baby (4:06)
Percussion - Peter Ulrich

6 See My Wife (3:55)

7 The Holey Man (4:16)

8 Hang On Me (For Papa) (5:08)
Drum Programming - Steven Young
Sampler [Sample Loop] - Simon Rodgers

9 Shut That Door (5:40)

(from Big Sex EP)

10 The Wedding (3:51)
Backing Vocals - Ruby James
Percussion - Peter Ulrich

11 The Great Leveller (4:31)

12 That Heat (4:23)
Backing Vocals - Ruby James
Trombone - Richard Avison

13 God's Number (4:39)
Backing Vocals - Ruby James


This is perhaps the Wolfgang Press' best release ever. The group's full potential is fully realized here, as well as Allen's highly expressive vocals (he could almost pass for Nick Cave!). Whereas previous releases like 'Standing Up Straight' and 'Burden Of Mules' might have sounded more gothic and a bit self-indulgent, 'Birdwood' shows a re-invented group of many moods and styles. They actually sound like they're having fun! The lead track 'King Of Soul', is twisted funk, complete with female backing vocals. 'Kansas' takes this even further wrapping itself up in a harder and funkier mid-tempo groove accented with loud strains of wah-wah guitar. 'Shut That Door' is even MORE extreme (think of Birthday Party getting it on with James Brown AND Funkadelic circa 1970 and you might get the idea). Other tracks like 'Bottom Drawer' and 'Holey Man' are cooler in delivery (the former is a nice dubby tune) but they still maintain that tension that seems to appear throughout this album from start to finish. This only serves to compliment the more upbeat tracks. Perfect balance.
The CD adds the contents of the previous 'Big Sex' EP release from 1987. (с)

URL - R.K. Frimen