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Whistler, Woodbine, Broadcast and Saint Etienne are all recent
purveyors. Stereolab are seen as legends of the genre. Pop boutique
would have library-like quiet without it. Sunshine pop (circa
1960) is all the rage it seems.
Birdie (led by former Saint Etienne band members Paul Kelly
and Debsey Wykes) have produced a high-quality addition to your
retro CD collection to be played on your swirly orange CD player
in your popart-decorated lounge. Triple Echo is pure
summer bliss. But there's no euphoric Ibiza trance, hard house,
chilled lounge or bangin' big beat to be heard. Instead, tingling
hammond organs paint luscious pictures of warm summer nights,
very welcome during a cold Manchester winter. Naturally cool,
massive in Japan and with a definite French flavour--it's easy
to draw comparisons with Stereolab. Or Nico-led Velvet Underground.
Standout tracks are the upbeat "Such A Sound" and
"Hammond". Otherwise, there is a persistent soundtrack-like
plodding tempo throughout this album. I can't help but wish
for one or two danceable tracks to sneak delicately up and poke
me in the ribs. Instead, Birdie have opted to emphasise their
fragile piano rifts, jangly guitar and airy couldn't-care-less
vocals. This passive approach may give the impression of background
music that would rather not disturb you in case you're busy.
But Birdie are good at what they do, and they would be stupid
not to play to their obvious strengths, right?
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