CD: The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here
The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here is Mike’s fourth album for the Irregular Records label. In this latest collection he uses his songwriting skills to cast an unflinchingly forensic gaze at the troubling times we’re all living through. But it’s not a soap-box rant. With a mixture of wit, anger and a wide palette of musical styles, The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here is a powerful critique of our wounded world.
The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here can only enhance Mike’s reputation for literate, intelligent, songwriting, immaculately delivered. He is supported by the core group of formidable musicians who’ve appeared on his previous albums – Tim Wade on trombone, Lee Humber on drums, Mick O’Connor on guitar and Reina James-Reinstein on keys and vocals- but this time augmented by violin maestro Barry Wickens (ex-Steve Harley Acoustic Band), Mickey Ball on trumpet (ex-Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra)), composer and bansuri flautist, Kate Hogg on soprano and alto sax and BAFTA award winning virtuoso pianist Joss Peach. The album was engineered and produced by studio wizard, Ali Gavan who also contributed vocals, bass, guitar and drums
The bonus track, The Mother’s Song was recorded in 1989 to draw attention to those who ‘disappeared’ in Argentina between 1976 and 1983. Reina and Mike share lead vocals. This song was their first musical project together.
Released on November 4th 2024 The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here is available as a CD from this website and from Bandcamp and as downloads from 31 streaming platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, Bandcamp and YouTube Music.
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If you’d like to buy this album as a download for £5.00 (plus vat) please click here |
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The Birds Don’t Sing Around Here for £10 plus £1.50p postage and packing in the UK
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Reviews
Congratulations on another superb set of songs. It is an accurate reflection of our times. What saves it from being thoroughly depressing is the quality of the musicianship and, as ever, with you, the care with which the songs are composed, arranged and recorded. There is always a lightness in your singing, too that lifts the overall feel of the music.
It is a joy to listen to, despite the dark themes and can I hand out a big bouquet to Joss Peach for the exceptional piano work on Looking For A Loophole. His work on that track combined with the quality of the song puts it right up there alongside any of Randy Newman's work. You are a significant and under-valued talent.
Roger Williams, Serenade-Radio
Anger & despair never sounded so exquisitely, eloquently & wittily expressed as they do on Mike Reinstein’s new album. Though the themes are austerely dark, the songs offer us those old consolations humanity…beauty, superb musicianship & highly singable refrains & choruses.