СИНЯЯ ПТИЦА  When You're In Love

You should have lived in the Soviet Union to feel the sweet poison of these words: "2 kopecks for the payphone", "Soviet youth" or "Sinyaya Ptitsa (Blue Bird)". The echo of the past times sounds in these words: today payphones work with telephone cards, the word "Soviet" has gone many years ago, and no one listens to VIA (Soviet abbreviation for "vocal-instrumental ensemble") "Blue Bird".

But "Blue Bird" still sings. Several songs from this album, according to the booklet, were recorded long ago, but prohibited by the Department of Culture. You will never guess which ones: they all seem alike.

This release is a nostalgic flashback, a letter from the Soviet Union of the 70es and 80es, 17 songs about love and youth. Happy intonations of back-vocalists, specific honest voice timbres. Tunes make you remember "hands up, baby, hands up", lyrics make you forget about everything: "Many happy days we've had with you, many joyous minutes". Very touching, very nice, very naive, almost impossible to listen to - of course, if you have never lived in the Soviet Union in the 70es and 80es. Those who did, though, will definitely love this release. Smiling with nostalgic pleasure, they will enjoy every minute of this trip to the half-forgotten hell of Soviet pop-songs.