Originally known as The Riflebirds they released their debut album, ‘April’ in 1989 to critical acclaim but broke up soon after. Fast forward to 2024 and the original band members reunited and due to a name clash, they became The Riflebirds of Portland, and a mere thirty-seven years after their debut album, have released ‘Windmills on The Moon’.
With the music and lyrics composed by bandmembers Lee Oser and Marvin Etzioni the album feels like a tribute to the height of the Americana based pop years of Laurel Canyon, and despite the time gap, there’s certainly no hint of the difficult second album syndrome about ‘Windmills on The Moon’.
Vocalist Kate Oser shines on the album, and her dreamy voice beguiles the listener with her folk pop sound that in places is very reminiscent of Jefferson Aeroplane. From the pop sensibilities of ‘She’s Not Here’ and ‘You Win’ to the surreal title track and ‘Penguin’ her voice is a guiding light across a beautiful sonic landscape full of harmony driven folk pop.
‘Windmills on The Moon’ is a refreshingly original record that sounds familiar in all the right ways.