Lullatone - Plays Pajama Pop...

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 24 / 2 / 2007

Label: Audio Dregs
Format: CD

Exquisite third album from enigmatic half Japanese, half American group which could be described as chidlren's music for adults

Review

A stereotype it is indeed, yet a female singer of Japanese background adds a degree of sensual, if not innocent, mystery. Lullatone is singer Yoshimi Tomida and composer Shawn James Seymour. To the untrained ear Lullatone produce esoterics and whispers. On 'Plays Pajama Pop Pour Vous', the third album from this duo which resides in Nagoya, Japan and in New York City, Lullatone, more than before, further refine their trademark introverted sketches. In spite of my mention of 'sensual' and the pajama bit in the album title, this is an album meant for waking up and for starting your day the right way. Brush your teeth, put on some clothes and go somewhere. Lullatone recorded these eight cuts onto a cassette which explains several of their abrupt endings. There is absolutely nothing messy about Lullatone's music though, where exquisite sophistication embraces the friendly imagination. Or imaginative friendliness. I am not sure. Always in balance, with the lovely sounds from their magic carpet being shrugged off into air, Lullatone's cascade features keyboards and a toy glockenspiel as key instruments, leading to a sound that is always lightweight whilst staying lean and keen. The many guest musicians on 'Plays Pajama Pop Pour Vous' provide the vibraphone, ukelele, cello, steelpan and flute but this album is not an extravagant tombola of sound; instead the contributions come as small gifts. Is this children's music for adults perhaps? The serenity of minimal structures of this collection of wonderfully gentle dance melodies leads you to think so. Lullatone's pajama pop suits everyone and in a perfect world they would be recording music for Disney films.

Track Listing:-

1 Good Morning Melody
2 Bedroom Bossa Band
3 Magical...
4 Pajama Party Pop
5 Sleepytime Samba
6 Thoughts And Clouds
7 Building Castles In The Sky
8 Floating Away