Itty Bitty Beats are back (as if they had ever been away) with their brand new album Imaginarium, featuring ten fabulous new songs guaranteed to have everyone up and grooving. This is their fourth album to date, and features a delightful brand of melodic ditties which will no doubt charm and inspire in turn. The world also seems to be finally waking up to this dynamic duo, who have been really smashing it on Spotify recently with over eighty thousand monthly listeners to date.
"Marpo The Hippopotamus" kicks off the proceedings in fine style, with this somewhat classical sounding description of the aforementioned hippo 'with no voice'. The music sounds almost vaudeville at times with its dramatic musical soundscapes, matched with a vocal that pays homage to Liza Minelli in her Cabaret era. The song finishes on a positive note, with our friendly hippo eventually finding her voice and receiving a 'standing ovation'.
We are then all invited to a "Party on the Moon", which has a more contemporary sound, and ventures into Tao Cruz territory. In essence the lyrics describe a birthday party which takes place seemingly on the moon. With an album title such as "Imaginarium" clearly anything is possible here. The vocals are delivered with serious conviction assisted by the melodic component which serves to further brighten up the sound.
"Rocktopus" describes an octopus who is in fact also a 'drummer in a rock band'. Here the music utilises a guitar sound which would sit comfortably on an AC/DC album. The drums and bass provide a solid backdrop culminating in a mini drum solo. We are then treated to a mesmerising guitar solo before the song comes to an abrupt end like a car crashing into a brick wall. Not the sort of song you would expect from this duo, but a welcome surprise, and all you heavy metal fans out there are sure to love it.
"Tutti Frutti Island" takes us into calypso territory with a clever reciprocal vocal, which reminded me a little of the Beatles "Twist and Shout". The song has great energy, and features a variety of instrumentation which blends together superbly in this hypnotic feast of sound. The bridge sounds like it's being narrated by a game show host, who invites us all onto the "Tutti Frutti" dance floor, to participate in a variety of dance steps.
"Sock Mess Monster" boasts one of the best song titles I've heard in a while, and has a lovely Celtic feel, which unfolds like an Irish jig. "The Sock Mess Monster" is in fact the 'Irish cousin of the Loch Ness monster', providing a humorous exploration into Scottish folklore. The music is joyful and uplifting, interspersed with a spoken voice. This lyrical technique creates the necessary dialogue for the lead vocal to dictate the pace of the music. An interesting idea, a great arrangement, and without doubt my favourite track on the album.
"Ride on a Cloud" features what sounds like a banjo and a trumpet competing for space. The melody is sublime reaching a crescendo on the chorus where the artist floats 'gently up' and then 'sales through the sky', on this imaginary journey. There is clearly a sixties music influence here, with an overall approach that sounds like a bizarre cross between "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" and "Streets of London".
"Mermaids" will surely have huge appeal, with its easy listening vibe and superb harmonies which keenly inform us that 'we are mermaids and we love to play and swing'. The song has a lovely country feel, featuring what sounds like a pedal steel guitar floating around in the background. There is also a dreamy lyrical display, which conjures up images of imaginary mermaids gliding through the water through 'the oceans blue green waves'.
Of course you can't have an album which stirs the imagination without mentioning unicorns. "Little Unicorn" is literally drowning in melody, and provides a description of the 'littlest unicorn you've ever seen'. This magical tale is accompanied by a sparse guitar and a gentle keyboard, which creates the required atmosphere that the lyrics demand. An absolute gem, and the type of song that children would probably love to hear at bedtime to serenade them to sleep.
"Dragon Tea Party" features some dexterous guitar playing, accompanying the lead vocals which describe the intrepid outcome of inviting 'a dragon to tea'. This tea party takes place 'under the apple tree', and the dragon clearly contributes to the proceedings, managing to warm up the tea pot with a breath of hot air. A fabulous idea for a children's song; brilliantly executed.
"Dream Machine" is essentially a bed time song, but this time the bed becomes a dream machine, which explores the dreamlike state of a child. Whether this is a cowboy adventure, a deep sea dive, or a rocket trip, the lyrics explore the infinite imagination of a child in great detail. Here bed time is no longer a monotonous ritual, but an exciting experience, providing opportunities for exploration and adventure
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