release date: 1988
format: cd (1994 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Michael Falch
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark
Track highlights: 1. "Nu brænder sommeren af" - 2. "Piger - piger" - 3. "Venter på vind" - 4. "De vildeste fugle" - 10. "Det bedste jeg har"
3rd studio album by Michael Falch following Det andet land (1986) sees a return to the familiar sound and style of Malurt. The debut album had been something entirely different, an attempt with contemporary synthesizer pop, which had been harshly rejected by music critics, and with his '86-follow-up, he tried a different approach on which he commented on his own status as a songwriter and with subdued folk rock and singer / songwriter attitude - an album I have always found even of lesser value than his mediocre solo debut.
De vildeste fugle sees Falch back with what had previously worked best for him: his safe-place with songs built on a Danish-versioned Springsteen-formula, and to ensure that, he has engaged some of his former band mates, including guitarist Christian Arendt, keyboardist Pete Repete, and guitarist Peter Viskinde. On "Kinddans (Altid parat til en)" you also find ex-Malurt bassist Dia Nielsen and drummer Peter Mors. To help finding the genuine Springsteen sound, the album is cut in New York and Little Steven is thanked for his assistance. The end result is mostly American pop / rock songs transformed with Danish lyrics, which only works because of the large language gap since it would have been too close to his biggest source of inspiration, had the song been in English.
I had completely neglected his sophomore solo after having heard some its songs on national radio, but I purchased this one when it was released mostly because the promotion single "Venter på vind" signaled a musical U-turn that I found much more in sync with what I had previously enjoyed about Malurt. In retrospect, it's far from original but on the other hand, no other Danish artists made attempts with this type of music and it felt more like a better version than the final studio album by his former band.
Despite coming really close to the style of his American idol, De vildeste fugle is imo one of Falch's best solo albums.
