Riding the wave of their 2025 hit 'Windmills on the Moon', the band has finally unearthed their 1989 debut, 'April'. With producer Marvin Etzioni at the helm, this forgotten record finally gets the powerhouse release it deserved decades ago.
Portland’s Riflebirds (1985–1989) were on the verge of a major breakthrough before their sudden split. Formed by Lee Oser and Kevin Kraft, the line up—which included Kate Lieuallen and Kevin Jarvis—worked with Marvin Etzioni to produce their cassette debut, ‘April’. Their track ‘Pieces of Time’ caught the attention of the CMJ and Columbia Records, marking them as one of the era’s “could-have-been” legends of the Northwest scene.
‘April’ opens with the hazy, immersive ‘Pieces of Time’ before the remixed ‘Dreaming of a Kiss’ kicks the door down with blistering pop-rock energy.
Like the month it’s named after, ‘April’ is full of surprises. High-octane tracks like the frantic, guitar-driven cover of ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ and ‘After Today’ nearly blow the roof off the studio, while the understated tones of ‘Rain’ and ‘Might as Well Stay’ bring the record back down to earth
‘April’ is a fantastic album to revisit; the raw energy of these young musicians is infectious, especially when paired with their Americana-pop melodies and thoughtful song writing.