Birdie - Triple Echo

by Chris Jones

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: IT
Format: CD

Deborah Wykes, Paul Kelly and the rest of Birdie easily won me over with their 1999 debut album 'Some Dusty'. It was one of those albums that seemed to find its way onto my radio show play list almos

Review

Deborah Wykes, Paul Kelly and the rest of Birdie easily won me over with their 1999 debut album 'Some Dusty'. It was one of those albums that seemed to find its way onto my radio show play list almost every week. So of course, when I first started hearing news of a follow up album I was thrilled. And then I heard that the album was only going to be released in Japan and the UK.… Sure, there would be a few nearby stores that would get the album, but it would be at the "Import Only", "Not Nice Price" of $23 or so. Fortunately, one of the perks of writing reviews is that sometimes you actually score an album that you'd be willing to spend $23 to get. And yes, Birdie's new album 'Triple Echo' is worth all that! It's one of those rare albums that is always enjoyable to listen to. I can just leave it on repeat mode all day long. I can listen to it when feeling happy or sad. I could even enjoy a bad day at work if this album were the soundtrack to it! Deborah Wykes has probably never sung a sour note in her life. Her voice has a warmth and smoothness to it that makes me think she must be a great kisser. She also plays bass, mellotron, organ, and a very cool sounding Wurlitzer electric piano on the album. Combined with the song writing and guitar skills of Paul Kelly, the result is a fantastic pop sound. Something like the best parts of Broadcast and Ivy merged together perfectly. Smooth, retro electronics and pure, Euro poppyness. If you haven't heard Birdie yet, then you really need to stop reading this review and start clicking your way over to the order page. It's just that simple, really. And if you already know Birdie, well, you know what i'm talking about and you should have already ordered this! 'Triple Echo' is a fabulous second showing and one of the best pop records I've heard all year.

Track Listing:-

1 The Original Strand
2 Such A Sound
3 Rosie's Drugstore
4 Sidewalk
5 Poster
6 Blue Eyed Son
7 Silver Line
8 Twin I Love You
9 Monday
10 Hammond
11 Blue Eyed Son (Reprise)
12 Coda

Interviews

Interview (2002)

Birdie was formed by vocalist Deborah Wykes and guitarist Paul Kelly in 1998. Wykes and Kelly, who are partners as well as band mates and who have a four year old daughter , first met when they were both working as backing musicians for Saint Etienne in