BIRDY (OST)

Peter Gabriel music in instrumental form reworked for a film about the after effects of the Vietnam War on two childhood friends. The compositions are retitled but the sources remain obvious and easily recognizable to fans of his first four solo efforts. Some of the music which didn't make it into the film but is also included here. This project demonstrated the intensity & power of Gabriel's music to set moods and express itself in contexts other than that for which it was originally intended. A must for Gabriel completists and of interest to fans of electronic and instrumental arrangements in the vein of Vangelis and Tangerine Dream.

At the foot of the tracklist of Peter Gabriel's "Music From The Film 'Birdy'" sits a very telling footnote: "Warning: This CD Contains Recycled Material And No Lyrics." Really, on a factual level, that just about says it all. This all-instrumental, largely synth-based CD contains some new material, but significant parts of it are segments from past Gabriel tunes, recast in a new context.

But that dry description misses the point. The "Birdy" album shines significant new light on some of Gabriel's most brilliant compositions. It is a stark, emotional revisitation of themes from songs like "Family Snapshot," "Rhythm Of The Heat," "Wallflower," and "San Jacinto." More than that, it is a logical next step in Gabriel's progression: His prior album, "Security," was so dramatic and theatric that it was nearly a film score in itself. This new context only serves to emphasize the power inherent in that music.

The "Birdy" album is a stark, dark, emotional exploration well-suited to the themes of the film. For rock fans, it lacks many traditional pop/rock elements, and it may not be a satisfying, self-contained release. For more prog-oriented fans, however, fans who can appreciate ambient instrumental music, it is a gorgeous and compelling collection from a gifted prog artist. It is not quite the equal of the "Passion" (music from the film "The Last Temptation Of Christ") that Gabriel would later create, but it is a work of exceptional depth that should not be overlooked as merely "that instrumental thing that Peter Gabriel did around the same time he released 'Sledgehammer.'" It is not for everyone, but for some, it will touch you deeply.

Peter GABRIEL started his soundtrack career with "Birdy", a riveting and emotional film about two young men that go off to war, starring Nicholas Cage and Mathew Modine. I remember the film and really didn't pay too much attention to the music playing in the background; I don't think that many folks really do unless it has a dominating presence. When I listened to this I could understand why it didn't get my attention. It's all atmospheric and meditative background music. This is not to say that this music has no value or purpose, it most certainly does. I am accustomed to being excited and totally mesmerized by GABRIEL's music, so this was disappointing. This is the first release by GABRIEL that I really didn't enjoy. I felt it was boring and uneventful.

Ratin: 2.5/5

Usually soundtracks don't work so well as their own. (If they do, they often differ a lot from the actual score heard on the film; Vangelis is a good example.) Gabriel's first film contribution shows Gabriel's talents in creating atmospheres. In film the music is used too sparingly, but as an album it's not for repeated listening. The decision to recycle material from Peter Gabriel albums 3 and 4 is not a bad idea at all; the songs really had this potential. In many cases it's just a fragment, e.g. piano intro of 'Family Snapshot' or outro of 'San Jacinto'. The most powerful track is 'Birdy's Flight' based on ending of 'Not One of Us' - the drumming is deliciously multiplied and the original song really pales in comparison. But as an album per se Birdy has quite little to offer in its shortness and such a cold, lonely, sad atmosphere. The film has a wider palette of emotions. And as a literature lover I must add that Alan Parker's film is not even closely as great as the novel by William Wharton.

I saw the film "Birdy" in a cinema in 1985 or in 1986, and I saw it again on TV years later. The story told in the film, as other reviewers wrote, is the story (if I remember well) of two childhood friends who are years later recruited to go to fight to the Vietnam War. One of them (Birdy)became obsessed with birds since childhood, and his friend looks at his behaviour with some surprise until both are hurt in the war and are send to the Military Hospital. In the Hospital Birdy`s fascination with birds leads him to think that he is one of them to the point that he retires from the real world adopting birds` behaviour. This strange (and fictitious, as the final credits of the film say) mental illness is shown in the film as the final outcome of the effects of war in the mind of Birdy. The final scene of the film is very funny, with Birdy jumping from the Hospital Room`s window, trying to fly, with his friend being frightened by this, but Birdy laughs at him as he really jumps to a roof which is below the window.

The music of Peter Gabriel for this film works very well with the scenes shown in the film. Gabriel has a lot of talent to make music for films like this. Most of the instrumental music for this film was done with Gabriel re-working the music of some songs from his third and fourth albums. The mood of the music is adapted very well to the scenes in this film. I particularly liked very much "Close Up (from Family Snapshot)" , "Birdy's Flight (from Not One Of Us)" and "Under Lock And Key (from Wallflower)" . The musical themes are reprised several times in the film working very well.

Birdy is an 1983 soundtrack of the movie of the same name. It consists mainly of an instrumental reworking of themes and melodies of the two preceding albums, but there are also some new pieces composed for the occasion.

It's a mesmerizing and ambient album, with sparse instrumentation and lots of new sounds. The opening At Night only has some slow repetitive percussion and some dark dry chords on what sounds like flutes and a mellotron that was smothered under 10 blankets to muffle the sound. Brilliant. Pieces like Quiet and Alone, Slow Water, Slow Marimbas and Sketch Pad maintain a similarly gagging claustrophobic mood.

Most of the remaining tracks are derived from known songs. While they are certainly deserving, they list among the sort of things fans have more need for then anyone else. But when it comes to soundtracks this is up there with the best, Birdy is an amazing album but should be approached with an open mind. 3.5 stars

Peter GABRIEL has signed some landmark soundtracks such as 'BIRDY' which we are going to dive into. The very deaf sound, bass to represent the invading universe of the dark side!

1. At Night and the animal entrance, jungle, wild, oppressive atmosphere, flute and soft, murky synths 2. Floating Dogs continues, latency is required; tribal pads with a black bass to symbolize the first flight, real or imaginary 3. Quiet And Alone with the air becoming more schizoid, duet of reverberating sounds, Japanese air on a JAPAN, still invading and dreamlike 4. Close Up (from Family Snapshot) and this piano which shines, which sparkles, cover and interlude before 5. Slow Water which plunges back into the evil hybrid atmosphere; is he a bird or does he live without a world foreclosed by the rushes of immoral war, a question mark; one of the most popular titles 6. Dressing The Wound continues and offers a climate of introspection in its crystalline sound; one of the rare moments when Peter's voice appears in the background, in the distance but also so present 7. Birdy's Flight (from Not One Of Us) for the first real flight, flight, sending to the other world; you watch the film and you say to yourself it's not possible, I'm dreaming and yet if that's how it happens when... you go to the other side; a sound which finally becomes clearer, yes the oppressive, dull side of the recording amplifies the climate; in short, you're flying for real 8. Slow Marimbas return to the human world where you realize that you have passed to the other side, a bit like in Horla, in the story of the axolotl who by dint of thinking crosses the barrier, moment where the marimbas reinforce latency, madness too 9. The Heat (from Rhythm Of The Heat) for the 2nd and great moment, the one where the world capsizes, where Man loses his footing; a succession of interlocking scenes showing the drift, the voices, the alteration of being; in the film remember the bird twirling among the bombs 10. Sketchpad With Trumpet And Voice with the voices of Peter tearing himself away from the hero's doom; moment of circumspection, waiting, frustration, doubt and despair and Peter screaming; which indicates the problem 11. Under Lock And Key (from Wallflower) for the beauty title, the one where you feel happy, where the heavy atmosphere finally leaves... a musical breakthrough 12. Powerhouse At The Foot Of The Mountain (from San Jacinto) yes you thought it was all over, well over in the best of all worlds... Pervasive latency to sow confusion on this finale.

A BOF to listen to with your eyes closed to remember the film and vice versa.