"Let's rock!"

This EP, released in 1980, is something of an oddity. Its four songs are an eclectic assortment and it is probably the first recording that widened Midnight Oil's scope. After this, listeners would no longer be able to pigeonhole the band. It opens with the most characteristic Oils song, the terrific rocker "No Time For Games", which deals with the angst of youth in the face of middle class conformity and parental expectations. "Knife's Edge" is a similar in your face rock song, with a brilliant driving rhythm. With "Wedding Cake Island" the EP becomes a bit more indefinable. A tropical/Hawaiian-like instrumental, this is a gorgeous track, complete with a melody (very unusual for the Oils!) "I'm the Cure" is a strange one. Presumably about drugs, the vocals are spoken very slowly, almost slurred. To the non fan it might sound sick - however it is very insighftul. It's an uncomfortable song - I'm not sure if I like it, but I can't deny its impact. "Bird Noises" is very good. It foreshadows the brilliance that would follow in two years' time, with the album "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1".

Somewhat trivial

Bird Noises is an okay EP. The production and sound quality is very good (better than Head Injuries, and much better than Place Without a Postcard). But there are only four songs on the disc, and none are very memorable. The songs are so-so, mediocre.

I'd put this at the bottom of Midnight Oil releases to get.

surprising

the 2 best known tracks on this are "no time for games", about kids from the wrong side of the track and "Weddingcake Island" a great instrumental piece which sounds very much like a "The Shadows" instrumental.Worth getting for these 2 tracks.