Short Reviews [Voodoo Monkey Child - 2009 - "Under a Crescent Moon Radio Mixes"]

The US band VOODOO MONKEY CHILD has been around in one form or another since 1990. Their debut was issued back in 1998. Since then line-up changes and expansions have occurred, and a second album, "Under a Crescent Moon" (2CD), eventually saw the light of day in 2009. This particular EP contains selected radio mixes of songs from that venture. I'll have to admit one thing: sending out an EP of material edited for radio play to a webzine focusing on progressive music is a courageous move. Four tracks are provided, with an alternate language version of the second of those as the fifth. The first two numbers aren't all that interesting: melodic hard rock with a few bells and whistles. The following two are more progressively inclined, featuring dampened dissonant tendencies in the interwoven piano and clean guitar themes, and elaborate vocal arrangements courtesy of singer Janey Age. The emphasis is on melody, and in style these might be placed inside the less adventurous part of the pomp rock universe. The songs on the EP have been shortened by up to three minutes in length, and I suspect that the album versions are more interesting. As for this EP, it should be a nice treat only for those who enjoy old fashioned AOR.

Olav M Bjornsen: September 22, 2010