Availability: CDBaby and other retailers.
Cost: $14.00
Found At: http://www.harmonicapocket.com/
Rating:

Ladybug one can best be described as “indie music for kids”, with a green solar-powered story and strong messages of conservation and acceptance weaved throughout. The theme of this disc seems to be heavily bug oriented with songs such as “The Light of the Firefly” and “Spiders in My Breakfast”. Gentle and mellow, the disc moves from slightly more upbeat “playtime” music to a series of five soothing multicultural lullabies providing you with a wide range of tracks to choose from.

THE MUSIC

This album opens with the sound effects of footsteps and murkiness. Then a little girl (listed in the credits as Odette J.) begins to share with us her scientific knowledge of Fireflies. This brief introduction is followed by the song “The light of the firefly” that has distinct influences of early 1970’s flower child music. With pleasant vocals and guitar work, it is a charming song and was a promising start to the album.

Next comes another brief interlude with that rather odd firefly girl as she and we go right into the song “spiders in my breakfast”, which has some of the same style of the first song, but which is distinctly child oriented with fun playful lyrics about eating spiders which is sure to delight children. A brief bridge of the “Itzy-bitzy Spider”, and then this upbeat song ends with the line, “whenever you are looking for me, I’ll be, at the bottom of a bowl of Cheerios”.

Wiith “One tree said”, the mood turns decidedly melancholy as this track begins with the sounds of a chain saw and goes onto tell the story of a tree that wishes to avoid being cut down. It is orchestrated with a see-sawing use of violins and guitars. “Just let me be where I belong, just let us be where we belong. Don’t please yourself by hurting someone else, all you see is dollar signs, how can you be so blind”. Not talking just about trees, this song contains a fish as well and obviously is referencing the razing of forests and the over-fishing and depletion of our oceans. The message in this song is perhaps a bit heavy for kids, but the music is rather good. And it can be a great wakeup call for a generation that is likely going to grow up seeing local woods razed to make way for strip malls and mega-stores.

The next two cuts finds their way onto the topic of ladybugs with “Love a ladybug”, another science dissertation by the little girl that is hard to hear, and the slow but upbeat song “Ladybug 123” that teaches counting and speaks of a ladybug with allergies. “one, two ladybugs go floating on a yellow breeze then in the trees a tiny sneeze a ladybug with allergies” Cute. This is reprised later on the CD with an acoustic instrumental version.

The following songs include “Twinkle twinkle little star”, “Oh Susanna” (done with a sitar in an cowboy and indian style, if you can imagine) and a cut called “I love the ABC’s” that is oddly house-style and reminiscent of something that might be played inside an Casablanca opium den of some sort. It stuck us as a very odd way to get children interested in the alphabet, and seemed like it was written for another market and re-purposed here.

“Four spaces” was a charming, though all too short song about having four spaces between your toes and how the singer would accept you even if you didn’t.

By this point we began to drift off a bit as we moved into the lullabies. “La Luna” was a charming cut towards the end, a soft and airy song that made me think of being outdoors on grass in the not too hot sun. Granted, the song’s title is talking about the moon, so why it sounded more brightly lit afternoon is beyond me. But it was nice.

PACKAGING

The packaging of Ladybug One would fit in with any adult CD collection. Cover art in a muted blue with a charming ladybug painting by Matthew Porter, this CD comes with full liner notes and lyrics and is illustrated throughout. Absent are primary colors or distinctly “for children” art. Personally, I like the style of this packaging much more. And the inclusion of lyrics is a wonderful change from other child-oriented music.

THE STORY

Ladybug One was produced in a solar-powered studio off the grid and Harmonica Pocket is proud to say that they only used electricity generated by the sun. Harmonica Pocket has a traveling children’s show that has played from Seattle to New York and involves a hula hoop and ukulele among other simple props. They’re definitely a quirky group.

CONCLUSION

Overall this was an enjoyable album. It will not become one of our favorites, but is an enjoyable and mostly relaxing work that can be used for lullabies and awake time as well. Its recording quality was very good, though not as crystal clear as many of the disks our ears have begun to get used to in these digital production times.

We enjoyed the messages of conservation and the little firefly girl was a cute touch.

Though there are certainly some odd artistic choices on this disk, we would recommend it. If you’re into Indie music, put it on the top of your list, it not just put it a bit further down.