Album Review: Songs For Growing - Heather Feather

Canadian artist Heather Feather's debut album Songs For Growing is a truly inspired piece of work. Featuring twelve songs of imagination and intrigue, the album boasts musicianship and arrangements of the very highest standard. The lyrics are quite superb, and serve to soothe, inspire, educate and uplift throughout. Her voice is both warm and engaging, and provides the perfect fit for such highly melodic songs, which will undoubtedly provide huge appeal to children across the globe.

The album kicks off with jazz-inspired rendition of the children's classic "Sleeping Bunnies", a song which features a nimble acoustic guitar, blending superbly with a somewhat forthright piano. In addition, what sounds like a double bass hovers its magical spell over an ambitious and instructive arrangement. Here the music ups the intensity on the chorus where the artist orders the bunnies to 'wake up', enabling the children to hop along in gleeful delight.

"Shayne The Sheep" tells the story of a sheep that is somewhat different from the crowd choosing to go his own way. He does this by choosing to moo, instead of baa as we all know sheep are usually inclined to do. A song which celebrates resilience, and in particular having the courage to rise above peer pressure and ultimately 'do what you want to do'. A song which also expresses the importance of being yourself 'because everyone else is taken'. The song has a jaunty upbeat feel, which matches the mood of the lyrics which celebrate individualism and defiance.

"I Can Eat A Rainbow" opens with a double bass jamming alongside some light percussion, before the gradual introduction of an acoustic guitar and a somewhat jaunty piano. The music is steeped in jazz, and has a superb vibe throughout. The lyrics, in stark contrast to the erudite sophistication of the music, describe how we can eat the different colours of a rainbow through the variety of colours in the food we consume. For example we can eat red cherries, yellow bananas or green beans 'because they're so good for me', and ultimately will help me 'grow up big and strong'. A novel idea, highly original, and a song which provides a colourful description of healthy eating habits.

"Migration Song" reminded me a little of "The Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book fame, with its sprightly piano, lively bass and heartfelt vocals. Here the lyrics provide opportunities for the kids to impersonate a variety of wildlife who get to 'fly away' because we can only live 'where it is warm'. The song would be an informative addition to any music class, where the children get to dance to the music, and also receive an education about the seasons, and the migratory habits of a variety of animals along the way. Brilliant!

You can't really have a children's album without a dinosaur song and this one is quite superb. Here, a honky-tonk piano spars with a rhythm section that wouldn't sound out of place on a Charlie Mingus album. This truly is twelve bar blues at its foot stomping best. The lyrics describe the dinosaurs in some detail, as well as their daily motions whether this is stomping, biting, or even swimming, there's a lot going on here. A song that is easy on the ear, and easy to dance to, culminating in the lyrical request to 'do the dinosaur dance'.

"Hey Ho" is another foot stomper, with a slight sea shanty vibe, which pays a certain homage to the Pogues. The song is interactive, providing opportunities for the kids to answer a series of geographical questions about their homeland, before enthusiastically joining in on the chorus. The song, as you might expect also features a lively fiddle dictating the pace of the song as the music gradually speeds up. As the music progresses, you can almost picture punters dancing along in a barn to the music in good hearted revelry. Old fashioned, charming and an absolute must to get any party going.

Other stand out songs on the album include the call and response "Construction Holiday", the somewhat melancholy "Dance with You" and the sprightly "Big Feelings". My favourite track however, is the wonderful "Plant a Seed"which certainly planted a seed in my heart. The song features a Beatles inspired acoustic guitar, which serenades the soul, yet which still provides the space for the melody to soar and swoon and ultimately melt your heart along the way. 

"Time For Bed" is a gentle ballad written to help get the kids to bed after an active day. A hypnotic acoustic guitar dominates the song, alongside a melancholy vocal which reminded me a little of Kate Bush. The descriptive essence of the lyrics helps the listener to picture the gentle ritual, where 'the shadows grow across the bed'. The melody is captivating throughout, as are the lyrics which describe this familiar scene, where 'nothing can harm you' because 'you are safe in my arms'. There is a lush, exotic feel to the track, which draws the listener in further, to the majestic majesty of the mood on display. 

The album finishes with the single "Ants in My Pants" a delightful ditty, with a very cool vibe, where an electric guitar competes with a lively piano for space. The song is great fun, and easy to dance to, I'm sure the kids will love it. The rhythm sounds a bit like the Stones' "Harlem Shuffle" although this time speeded up for good measure.  A very cool, jazzy piece of music as catchy as anything you're likely to hear and a great way to finish the album.

This is a terrific album, packed with delightful songs and potent melodies all topped off with a lavish production. The vocals are sublime, as are the lyrics which dramatise the music superbly. Despite the musical dexterity on display and the sophistication of some of the instrumentation, this by no way detracts from the playful essence of the music throughout. This album is essentially all about fun, and on this form I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from this exciting artist in the near future. 

Heather Feather - songs to grow and sing.