Rainbird – Maiden Flight

The reviewer below has failed to notice that the Rainbird track "storm dance" was uploaded to YouTube over 8 years ago and is identical to the reissued version, so to suggest that it has "phasing" added by a label that only formed 6 years after the YouTube posting and 50 years after the track was made, is astonishingly stupid, damaging to the artists reputation, and hideously ill-informed.

Might we suggest that "reviewers" actually do some research before posting such nonsense, they only make themselves look like fools with no actual understanding or appreciation of music.

As to the LP it's music is divisive. Many love it and some hate it. It can be described as meandering, dreamlike and mystical. Or formless, lacklustre and without song structure.

Regardless it is worth documenting and being made available to anyone that wants to investigate it.

Do I personally think it's a good lp? Yes. Do I like it ? No.

The track "Storm dance" was written by a different band member than the other tracks. It is the stand out track in terms of being a structured "song" and does have a remarkable sound something like Oasis and The Verve from decades later.

Music like this deserves to be documented and made available. Rainbird is a rare example of an obscure rarity that had not received a full digital upload anywhere and many many collectors have been curious to hear the full album.

If we are to judge rock music in an objective framework then there are no rare/obscure LPs that are "as good" as Led Zep IV or Uriah Heep Look At Yourself, or Carole Kings Tapestry. Should we should therefore identify one Prime Ultimate Rock LP and dismiss every other record as rubbish ?

This is nonsense, many people have heard nearly every issued lp in this genre, and crave more, even if it's flawed, damaged, whatever. This is an important task, documenting material before it is forgotten and lost. The alternative is to bury it, burn it, or censor it.

The album kicks off with a lengthy flute/organ instrumental which isn't better than Iron Butterfly. The rest of the LP is in firm Moody Blues territory, with self-serious vocal delivery and pretentious lyrics, but without the appeal of hi-fi sonics or quality tunes. Phasing effects on "Stormdance" sound like post-production from the reissue label. Either way, it's a thumbs down from me, as the scraping of the barrel continues.

Please note the Seelie Court Reissue states there were 200 copies made, this is a miss-print, actually there were 99 plus one test pressing, and very few of them had sleeves. The front cover was supposed to be the Rainbird design as used for the reissue. which sounds and looks fantastic by the way.

Official reissue forthcoming on LP and CD from Seelie Court Records, with full history and unseen art.

knows anybody to download this album for a CD-R,on you tube is only 1 Titel

Great LP....Was released in 1971. Wish there was more info out there about this record!