Room E
Penguin Child
Proper Songs
We hate having to damn with faint praise. In many ways, it鈥檚 worse than saying that an album is a complete shambles and the artist should start over. At least then we can be entertaining. We can even be angry. Here, we just feel a little bit sad.
Because Room E鈥檚 latest album isn鈥檛 bad, really. He鈥檚 a San Diego-based producer and he makes gentle electronica. The album, Penguin Child, is a very relaxed walk through this particular genre. But while it might be a very competent, well-made record, it鈥檚 about as exciting as a seminar on historical wallpaper.
It鈥檚 just, well … nice. It鈥檚 the kind of music David Cameron would play at a Notting Hill dinner party. You鈥檒l appreciate the gentle rhythms of Woolly Mammoth. You might raise a smile at the cheeky Earl Grey. And then someone will make an off-colour joke and the music will fade into the background to be ignored for the rest of the evening.
So, sadly, we can鈥檛 in good faith recommend Penguin Child. While accomplished, it just lacks interest.
Rob Boffard