Birdy

Birdy

by Birdy
Birdy

Birdy

by Birdy

Vinyl LP(Long Playing Record)

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Overview

On the face of it, the self-titled debut from 15-year-old Birdy, aka Jasmine van den Bogaerde, doesn't seem any different from the hastily assembled cash-in covers albums released every year by the various X Factor alumni. But although its 11 renditions of mostly contemporary songs, many of which could be passed off as originals due to their previous lack of exposure, stick to the tried-and-tested talent show formula, that's where the comparisons end. Indeed, you won't find any karaoke standards or renditions of Miley Cyrus songs here, as this stripped-back collection of lesser-known hits and album tracks reads like a who's who of lo-fi hipster indie rock. The likes of the National's "Terrible Love" and Francis & the Lights' "I'll Never Forget You" offer little deviation from the source material, but for the most part, producers Rich Costey (Muse), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys), and Jim Abiss (Adele) strip the songs down to their bare bones, turning Cherry Ghost's everyman anthem "People Hold the People" into a tender torch song with its stately piano chords and mournful cello, toning down the aggression of the Naked & Famous' synth pop hit "Young Blood" with some muted beats and ethereal twinkling electronica, while somehow turning the already sparse "Shelter" from the xx's Mercury Music Prize winner into an even more skeletal and ghostly affair. As clever and subtle as these reworkings are, it's Birdy's youthful and fragile voice that steals the show, whether it's replicating the multi-layered harmonies of Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal," providing a poignancy to Bon Iver's "Skinny Love," or showcasing her scale-gliding abilities on the Postal Service's "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight." The gospel-tinged cover of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," the only track to sound more expansive than the original, feels slightly out of place, while the unremarkable balladry of the only original composition, "Without a Word," suggests she might have to work a little harder on her songwriting skills if she's to avoid becoming a one-trick pony. The whole idea of Birdy sounds like a transparent attempt to court a more credible audience, but thanks to her haunting tones and a tasteful yet compelling production, it impressively avoids being the try-hard affair you'd expect. ~ Jon O'Brien

Product Details

Release Date: 07/03/2012
Label: Atlantic / Warner Bros.
UPC: 0825646606870
Rank: 44165

Tracks

  1. 1901
  2. Skinny Love
  3. People Help the People
  4. White Winter Hymnal
  5. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
  6. I'll Never Forget You
  7. Young Blood
  8. Shelter
  9. Fire and Rain
  10. Without a Word
  11. Terrible Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Birdy   Primary Artist,Lead,Piano,Vocals,Voices,Keyboards
Patrick Kiernan   Violin
Audrey Riley   Strings,Conductor,Orchestra Leader
Emma Owens   Viola
Jamie Cullum   Piano,Keyboards
Leo Abrahams   Guitar
Wally Gagel   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Matt Chamberlain   Drums,Percussion
Neil Cowley   Organ,Piano
Brad Webb   Drums
Lucy Shaw   Cello
Jamie Muhoberac   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Jim Abbiss   Drums,Drum Machine
Rich Costey   Noise,Synthesizer
Ian Burdge   Cello
Alessandro Cortini   Synthesizer
Alex Macnaghten   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Kirk Hellie   Guitar
Rosie Danvers   Cello
Steve Maire   Double Bass
James Ford   Drums,Guitar,Pandeiro,Percussion
Christopher Tombling   Strings,Orchestra,Orchestra Leader
Stephen Mair   Double Bass
Hayley Pomfrett   Violin
James Ellis Ford   Drums,Guitar,Percussion
Alex McNaughten   Bass
Alex McNaghten   Bass

Technical Credits

Paul "P-Dub" Walton   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Mixing Engineer,Additional Production
Aaron Dessner   Composer
Matt Berninger   Composer
Billy Corgan   Composer
Audrey Riley   Arranger,String Arrangements
Jimmy Tamborello   Composer
James Iha   Composer
Ben Gibbard   Composer
Greg Calbi   Mastering
James Taylor   Composer
Leo Abrahams   Effects
Richard Woodcraft   Engineer
James V. Taylor   Composer
Robbie Nelson   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing,Producer
Christian Mazzalai   Composer
Jim Abbiss   Producer
Rich Costey   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Justin Vernon   Composer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Chris Kasych   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jaime Sickora   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Baria Qureshi   Composer
Jamie Smith   Composer
Lauren Dukoff   Photography
Aaron Short   Composer
James Ford   Producer
Bo Madsen   Composer
Johan Wohlert   Composer
Dan Curwin   Photography
Romy Madley Croft   Composer
Oliver Sim   Composer
Robin Pecknold   Composer
Simon Aldred   Composer,Lyricist
James Brown   Engineer
Ian Dowling   Mixing,Engineer
Alex H.N. Gilbert   Mixing,Artwork,Producer,Repertoire,Photography,Executive Producer,Additional Production
Frederic Moulin   Composer
Laurent Mazzalai   Composer
Thomas Croquet   Composer
Jim Abiss   Producer
Baria Quershi   Composer
Thomas Powers   Composer
Alisa Xayalith   Composer
Ben Baptie   Mixing,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Birdy   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Christian Tattersfield   Executive Producer
Dan Silber   Assistant,Studio Assistant
Gareth Henderson   Engineer
James Thomas Smith   Composer
Jasmine van den Bogaerde   Composer,Group Member
Rupert Bogarde   Engineer
Jonas Terkelsboel   Composer
Silas Joergensen   Composer
Aaron Phillip Short   Composer
Frederic Jean Joseph Moulin   Composer
Oliver David Sim   Composer
Thomas Brading Powers   Composer
Francis Farewell Starlite   Composer
Alisa Xayalth   Composer
Simon John Alred   Composer
Rupert Bograde   Engineer
Robin Noel Peckhold   Composer
Bjerre Terkelsboel   Composer
Silas Utke Graae Jorgensen   Composer
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