by Tom Demalon
Peter Gabriel's first foray into soundtracks was for Alan Parker's contemplative film Birdy and is a successful companion piece, providing a backdrop that is moody and evocative. Nearly half of the album's dozen tracks incorporate threads from material found on Gabriel's 1982 Security set, including &Close Up,& which makes use of keyboard passages from &Family Snapshot,& and &The Heat,& which is a reworking of &The Rhythm of the Heat& and builds to a frenzied percussive crescendo. Material specially written for this project includes the murky opening track, &At Night,& the tribal &Floating Dogs,& and &Slow Marimbas,& a track which would become part of future live performances. The fact that Birdy is comprised of all instrumentals means that listeners whose familiarity with Gabriel is limited to &Sledgehammer& and &In Your Eyes& will be largely disappointed. However, its meditative nature makes it fine, reflective listening for the more adventurous.