Birth Control - Increase (1977)

Birth Control - Increase (1977)

Tracklist front / back album covers

Birth Control – Increase (1977)

Tracklist:

1. Increase

2. No Desire

3. Be My Friend

4. Alone

5. Children of Tomorrow

6. My Life Is In Your Hands

7. Stop Fighting

Review:
Increase (1977) is a fascinating chapter in Birth Control’s discography, showcasing the band’s shift toward more polished, melodic hard rock with touches of mainstream 70s rock. After experimenting with accessibility on Backdoor Possibilities, Increase pushes further into structured songwriting while keeping the essence of Hammond-driven riffs and progressive flair intact.

The opening track “Increase” immediately sets the tone with an energetic, hook-filled hard rock groove. “No Desire” and “Be My Friend” reveal the band’s focus on catchy choruses and tight arrangements, making the album highly approachable without sacrificing their characteristic heaviness. “Alone” and “Children of Tomorrow” provide a mix of introspective lyrics and dynamic instrumental passages, highlighting Bernd Noske’s versatile drumming and emotive vocal delivery.

The album retains progressive sensibilities in tracks like “My Life Is In Your Hands,” blending organ-driven textures, melodic guitar lines, and rhythmic experimentation. “Stop Fighting” closes the album with a memorable, punchy finale that reflects the band’s continued knack for balancing melody and energy.

Overall, Increase may not reach the raw intensity of early albums like Operation or Hoodoo Man, but it demonstrates Birth Control’s maturity and adaptability, appealing to fans of 70s German hard rock, melodic prog, and early heavy rock. It serves as a bridge between the band’s early experimental phase and their more accessible late-70s sound.

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Fun Facts & Trivia:

• Increase was recorded during a time when the band aimed to reach wider European audiences through more melodic, radio-friendly material.

• Tracks like “Children of Tomorrow” reflect a growing interest in social commentary and forward-looking themes.

• The album showcases some of the tightest studio performances in the band’s career, thanks to a stable lineup.

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Did You Know?

• The title track “Increase” became a popular concert opener during late-70s European tours.

• Despite its accessibility, the album still features extended organ and guitar passages, preserving the band’s signature sound.

• Many collectors consider Increase a key transitional album, bridging Birth Control’s heavy early 70s era and their later, more mainstream-oriented work.

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Selling / Collector’s Info:

Original 1977 CBS German pressings of Increase are moderately collectible, with mint copies typically selling for €50–€120. While later reissues are widely available and affordable, first pressings remain a must-have for serious Birth Control collectors and 70s European hard rock enthusiasts.

Keywords: Birth Control Increase review, German hard rock 1977, Krautrock melodic hard rock, Birth Control vinyl collector, 70s progressive rock albums