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rainbirds 25thanniversarydeluxe
Artist: Rainbirds
Title: Rainbirds-25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Genre: Pop / Rock
Release Date: 25th October 2013
Label: Vertigo Berlin (Universal)


Album Review

BLUEBIRDS was a German Pop band around the singer Katharina Franck founded in 1986 and disbanded in 1999. Inspired by an instrumental song of TOM WAITS the band’s name was chosen. After winning in a Berlin Rock contest in 1986 the band got a contract with the Mercury record company. Their first self-titled album, produced by Udo Arndt, was a striking success and their in 1988 released single ‘Blueprint’ became a hit single all over Europe. The first line- up consisted of Katharina Franck (vocals, guitar), Michael Beckmann (bass) and Wolfgang Glum (drums). On the occasion of live performances Rodrigo Gonzáles (guitar) joined the band. In spring 1989 their second album ‘Call me easy, say I’m strong, love me my way, it ain’t wrong’ was launched. After the release Beckmann, Glum and Gonzáles left the band because of some musical deviations.

With the pianist Ulrike Haage Katharina formed at first a duo. Two further albums were released but these couldn’t live up to the earlier success. In 1994 Tim Lorenz (drums) joined the band. With this line-up they launched two further albums and the last release of the band - a live album in 1999. Katharina did then some other projects. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the release of the debut album, a now re-mastered edition of it including a bonus CD with unreleased demos of Katharina Franck and live material and a DVD containing a recording of unreleased material of the show on the 16th June 1988 in Berlin- Weißensee (former East- Berlin, GDR). Now in Mai 2014 RAINBIRDS start again with Katharina Franck and a new line- up by launching their new album ‘Yonder’, containing mainly old songs interpreted in a new way.

So is it really 25 years ago since the release of RAINBIRDS debut album with their hit single ‘Blueprint’, which was played up and down of every radio station and in almost every discotheque? Oh well, time flies. I liked this song very much, too, especially because of the enchanting voice of the singer Katharina Franck. Nevertheless I was not really into their music, though there were surely a few songs after their hit single that were quite nice, too. But more or less the band was a one hit wonder and disappeared off the radar quite soon. With now listening to this album I was quite surprised how good they really were. And even though the actual album is a quarter century old, the re-mastered version sounds fresh and new nowadays. Of course the music of the band is dominated by the extraordinary voice of Katharina but it is topped off with nice a Rock- Pop sound, which invites you to tap your toes and brings you in a good spirit. So this edition is surely worth to buy. The deluxe edition is available as standard version, containing a CD, a live CD and a DVD, but the album is also available as download version.


Tracklist

CD1
01. Boy On The Beach
02. Blueprint
03. 7 Compartments
04. Apparently
05. On The Balcony
06. No Greater Love
07. We Make Love Falling
08. Dancer
09. Fireworks
10. The Bird Up There Is Really You
11. I Could Be You (Could Be Me)
12. It's All Right
13. Just A Simple Matter

CD2
01. Boy On The Beach (Live From Baunatal Stadthalle, Germany / May 5th, 1989)
02. Apparently (Live From Berlin Altes Tempodrom, Germany / May 12th, 1989)
03. Rainbirds (Live From Berlin Altes Tempodrom, Germany / May 12th, 1989)
04. The Bird Up There Is Really You (Live From Bocholt Schützenhalle, Germany / May 3rd, 1989)
05. Blueprint (Live From Berlin Altes Tempodrom, Germany / May 12th, 1989)
06. I Know More Than You Know (Demo)
07. Sweet Thing (Demo)
08. We Make Love Falling (Original Demo Version)
09. Heaven Is Everywhere But Here (Demo)
10. Good! (Original Demo Version)
11. Why (Demo)


Line-up

Katharina Franck
Michael Beckmann (former member)
Wolfgang Glum (former member)
Rodrigo Gonzáles (former member)
Ulrike Haage (former member)
Tim Lorenz (former member)


Website

http://www.universal-music.de/rainbirds/home


Cover Picture

rainbirds 25thanniversarydeluxe


Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 9
Total: 8 / 10





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