Album Track Review: Unplug and Play - Nathalia

 

Nathalia is a Los Angeles-based children's musician, music therapist and early childhood educator originally from Colombia. She applies a uniquely bilingual approach to her songwriting which ensures that she stands out from the crowd. Nathalia has released five albums to date of entirely original content and I recently found the time to sit down and have a closer listen to her work.

"Unplug and Play" is a track from Nathalia's latest album Mil Colores. The song is quite superb, with an intricate rhythm section carrying the groove and creating the space for the artist to add her delightful vocals. The song is absolutely swimming in melody, and along with its infectious groove, the music manages to captivate the listener throughout.

Interestingly, half the song is in English and half in Spanish, which keeps the listener alert to the message, which suggests, sometimes it's a good idea when things get tough to take it easy. Life certainly has its ups and downs, and I for one think it's excellent advice to 'take a break to be inspired', and 'don't hesitate'.

The middle eight sees the artist describing all the fun things that we can all do, such as 'fly a kite' or 'ride a bike' just to name a few. The importance of using your imagination is emphasised throughout the song, which is clearly much easier when you find the time to wind down and chill out.

The song finally draws to a close with a brief musical interlude gradually grinding to a halt with a superb flourish at the end. All in all a superb song from an exciting artist, who combines luscious melody with exotic musicianship, and does so with both style and finesse. Also, make sure you check out the rest of the songs on this fabulous album, which is literally crammed full of delightful tunes guaranteed to have you up on your feet

Nathalia - adventures in paradise.

Flash Single Review: Little River Runs - Tiptoe Giants and Josh Pyke

"Little River Runs" is the fabulous new single from Tiptoe Giants who have collaborated with Josh Pyke to create this highly melodic celebration of the Earth in all its magical splendour. I have to say, this is a truly wonderful collaboration largely due to the unique vocal blend which is quite superb. If this song is anything to go by, I'm sure their new album due out later this month will be pretty special. 

The little river takes centre stage on this musical journey, culminating in its majestic merger with the sea. Meanwhile, the splendid sights surrounding the river are each described in sumptuous details as the song progresses. There is a cumulative effect here, where the lyrics serve to build on each of the previous verses, adding additional sights, giving the song its folky sing round the camp fire vibe. The images used are so exquisitely potent that they could easily be featured in the pages of a popular picture book for children.

The music begins quite simply with a flute and acoustic guitar, before being joined by a hypnotic bass, additional intensity as the song progresses. The instrumentation is superb throughout, with a nimble acoustic guitar taking centre stage amongst an array of instruments that merge together and delight the senses with their sweet and soulful blend.

This unique approach, enables the listener to delight in the musical dexterity of the song, as the story unfolds, revealing the miraculous beauty of nature celebrated in all its glory. As the descriptive verse becomes more complex, so does the music where additional harmonies are included, giving the song an almost gospel feel. The music ultimately reaches its climax through a clever musical refrain which returns to the 'valley below' for a final review of all the wonderful sights so eloquently described throughout.

There is also an interesting sense of connection revealed here, whether it is the raindrops that ultimately merge with the river, or the lorikeet that sings from the tree, the lyrics perhaps hint at how we are all connected and ultimately depend on each other for our survival. I'm sure this song would be very popular in schools, not just as a fun singalong, but perhaps also to describe the way nature is interdependent, and perhaps shine some light on subjects such as the water cycle.

An absolute masterpiece, where what initially sounds like a jaunty singalong reveals itself to be so much more. The lyrics provide the images that trigger the imagination, and the sensitivity and depth of the vocal delivery provide a deep rooted connection for the listener to easily engage with the song. The music is sprightly and highly melodic and makes the most of the scintillating harmonies on display. The listener can delight in the wonders of nature through the majesty of the descriptive verse and the sublime melody that surrounds. Intoxicating, imaginative and guaranteed to stir the senses. I highly recommend it.

Tiptoe Giants and Josh Pyke - musical perfection.

Gig Review: Teeny Tiny Stevies at The Triffid, Brisbane

Well, I can't think of a much better way to spend a Sunday morning than attending the Triffid in Brisbane, one of my favourite live venues. This place is an old commercial hangar that combines its WW2 heritage with a unique garden, creating both a comfortable and vibrant atmosphere. Its cylinder-like structure, leaves the impression that you are entering a tunnel, and the number of classic Beatles tracks I heard blasting out of the PA on arrival provided an additional bonus.

The set began slowly with just vocals and keyboards at the forefront, before the additional musicians arrived on stage, picking up the pace with noticeable skill and dexterity. The band then launched into the wonderful "Light As A Bubble" a charming song which really got the audience going. The song featured some breathtaking harmonies, underpinned by a sublime rhythm section that really stirred the senses. It was abundantly clear something pretty special was happening, as the children were already up, eagerly surrounding the stage and dancing with rapturous delight.

If you shut your eyes and zone in on the music, it could be Fleetwood Mac up there, with shades of Joni Mitchell or Edie Brickell on display. A unique sound, combining rock, and country music, lapped up and celebrated by a hugely enthusiastic audience. I was nonetheless a little surprised at how loud the music was for a family concert; no cotton wool kids here, which suited me just fine. The times clearly are a changing.

The band continued to work their way through more of their back catalogue including the enchanting "Sleep Through The Night", the uplifting "Baby In Mum's Tummy", and the absorbing "Plastic". A song which finished with the declaration that 'even if you're small you can help change the world'. Well, I for one would second that; providing empowering and encouraging messages to the next generation should be encouraged at every opportunity.

"How Am I Different" utilised a superb bass line, with imaginative lyrics exploring individuality, and the importance of celebrating difference. In a world where young people are often pressurised into conforming, this song provides a notable breath of fresh air, emphasising the importance of simply being true to your own unique self. The song is one of many from the set taken from their latest album, "How To Be Creative", which you really should check out at your earliest opportunity.

My favourite song of the set was the magnificent "I Ate A Rainbow", which absolutely blew the roof off, a fabulous foot stomper, with its relentless rhythmic chant. The song takes the audience on an interactive roller coaster ride where there's a party going on and we’re all invited. Many of the songs in the set encourage audience participation, with an open invitation for everyone to get up and get involved. This was further enhanced through the inclusion of a highly effective digital backdrop, where at one point I noticed a platypus grooving along to the music.

"Had You To Teach Me" introduced a ukulele to the proceedings, before the rhythm section arrive enabling the song to bounce along in fine style. The song has a gentle warm vibe, which ebbs and flows throughout, with lyrics suggesting that despite life's ups and downs, I'll be okay 'because I had you to teach me'. A song written perhaps for all the exhausted teachers and parents out there, who may need to be reminded that their efforts don't go unnoticed.

Although there was already plenty of dancing going on, the band then shifted gears announcing that ‘it was time to boogie’, and I guess the song "Dance", was the perfect song to drive home the point. A superb piece of music, that really hit the target with its funky bass line, and nimble drumming throughout. The music actually reminded me a little of Chic if anyone remembers them.

"Boss Of My Own Body" began with just bass and drums, providing an opportunity to introduce the musicians who received rapturous applause during their brief solo improvisations. The song is essentially a statement of intent, emphasising the point that although there may be many things I can't control, I am in charge of myself. The compressed and somewhat staccato approach used on the verses, provided the necessary tension and release for the chorus to really soar captivating the audience throughout.

The band finished in fine style with the succinct and slightly psychedelic "Use Your Imagination", providing the perfect finale through its simple message and extraordinary vocal effects. The song exploded with a final flourish, encouraging the kids to use their imaginations, hitting the spot through an astonishing cacophony of sound that has to be heard to be believed. Amazing!

This band really have it all worked out, they make music which is interactive, lyrically insightful and easy to dance to. The set was also an hour long, providing excellent value and destroying the myth that kids can't focus on anything for more than half an hour. I know it’s a cliché, but their music really does appeal to both children and their parents alike, who can be seen enjoying the music every bit as much as the kids. The band have captured a slice in the market where nowadays, a gig isn’t just for the parents, the band entertain and uplift everyone, even an old rocker like me, and that is some achievement.

Teeny Tiny Stevies – love you live.

Video Review: Wheels on the Bus - Lah-Lah

I first reviewed Lah-Lah back in 2021 when I took a closer look at their extensive catalogue of original children's music and reviewed their excellent song "Catch Me If You Can". On this occasion I decided to take a deep dive into the Lah-Lah YouTube channel which has a phenomenal library of preschool music videos on display. The creative team behind the channel is husband and wife duo Tina and Mark Harris. They are musicians and early childhood educators who have been in the business of educating and entertaining children for over twenty years.

It is well-documented that nursery rhymes are a wonderful way to boost language development and literacy skills in the early years. This is also the focus of the Lah-Lah YouTube channel where the emphasis is on music videos that are highly interactive thus encouraging young children to actively participate through singing, dancing and joining in rather than watching passively. This new video certainly upholds this vision.

Their latest music video release is a fascinating reworking of the classic nursery rhyme "Wheels on the Bus". Yes, I know some of you might be thinking this has already been done, but this band has a unique ability to take something familiar and really make it their own, which is some achievement. The Byrd's cover of Dylan's classic "Tambourine Man" comes to mind.

Tina Harris (as Lah-Lah) and Mark Harris (as the bus driver/lollipop man) are the stars of the video supported by a host of animated characters. Their on-camera presence shines through as among the best in the business, as they always look so relaxed and at ease on camera. As with all things Lah-Lah, the visuals in this music video are exemplary with high production values, clearly establishing them as experts in their field.

The band's music is generally jazz-inspired but this time they have ventured into pop territory with a sound slightly reminiscent of the Jackson 5. The music is quite sparse with drums, bass and keyboards dominating the sound, along with crystal clear vocals and highly effective harmonies. The overall approach is inclusive and welcoming with a sound that stirs the senses, further encouraging the listener to jump on board. The band also manages to squeeze in an additional refrain to the song, cleverly introducing a freeze game adding further interactivity. 

If you have little ones in your life be sure to check this one out. You'll be glad that you did because a trip into the world of Lah-Lah is certainly a joyful one! You might even catch yourself singing and tapping along. Who knew bus travel could be this much fun?

Lah Lah - hop on board everybody's welcome.