The Cranberries - Doors and Windows (Island)

The much heralded "Doors And Windows" album by the Cranberries is the first release on the new mixed-media format Rainbow CD. In an effort to combine the benefits of all the different computer and multimedia formats, Philips Media (in conjunction with M/B Interactive of New York) and Island Records have produced a disc that will play on Macintosh and PC CD-Rom drives, CD-i players as well as normal audio CD players. Unlike other multimedia formats, a computer or CD-i player can read the mixed data tracks separately from audio tracks so you can choose whether you want to just listen to the Cranberries songs or experience an interactive investigation into their world. The audio here is very collectable indeed and features three different versions of "Zombie" (including an edit of the original demo), a live version of "Dreams", three other tracks, background loops of seven tracks and a further 40 minutes of conversation and Irish blarney. The multi-media includes 10 minutes of Quicktime video boxes, 5 minutes of full screen video, 90 pictures, lyric sheets and vox pops. All this is accessible though a Cranberries-style settee interface, not a million miles away from the cover of their first album, "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?". You can click you mouse on different members of the band to hear anything from stories behind the songs or more important day-to-day facts ("I like Guinness!" says one if continually probed!). One of the most important and collectable interactive discs of the year. Although the interactive element could wear thin on repeated plays, thanks to Rainbow CD, the disc can be played on a conventional Hi-Fi for more long-term enjoyment.


This review also published in: Record Collector