ROCK CHILD - review added 11th March 2009
Album Review: Ten (2008)
For fans of: prog rock... and Blondie when she's drunk
I have to say, I came to this album with high hopes. Rock Child have an interesting image going on - lead singer Tat Jane Bego is not unattractive - and the guys clearly put a lot of enthusiasm into what they do. However, if the writing, performing and production are not up to scratch, no amount of willingness, energy or aesthetics will help. On that count, this album struggles like a mentalist in a straight jacket.
The guitar sound occasionally ventures down an intriguing, progressive avenue. Some of the solos are actually rather impressive, but there is little finesse in the production to back the shredding up. Even the better segments don't come across with anything approaching excellence... because they are mauled into submission by mixing desk carelessness.
The music often comes across as woefully unbalanced and devoid of logical time signatures. Frequently, the sound is so shallow you couldn't drown a cockroach in it. I appreciate the record was probably made to a budget, but there are people out there who can make a warm, multi-layered masterpiece on a laptop in their bedroom. With today's technology, there is simply no excuse.
Second problem is the vocals. Here and there hints of Blondie leak through, but they soon are soon overwhelmed by something fairly un-Blondie-like. Tat Jane's vocals are 'interesting' to say the least. Her voice tends toward the wrong side of the whining divide. This may have been deliberate, but you 'd have to wonder why. The songs can be uncomfortable to listen to if you don't prepare yourself. Occasionally, when the composition allows, she sings a little slower in a deeper register: the last twenty seconds of 'Step On Mad' for instance. When this happens it almost comes together.
Rock Child have tried something interesting on this release. They should be commended for not following the sheep and not doing something chart-botheringly obvious, and the guitar work is, here and there, deserving of praise. But... overall, the album is a more biased towards ear-punishment than aural pleasure.
Check out... Erm...
Track List:
1. Blue Sky
2. Help Wanted
3. Step On Mad
4. When Sun's Coming Down
5. Business Baby
6. Save The Planet
7. Kick Me In The Face
8. An Apple Bank
9. Pirate Land
10. An Anticipation
Artist's websites: Rock Child , MySpace
