Steven Clarkson (http://www.chocteemusic.com) will probably consider it a compliment if you fall asleep during "Meow Meow Baby - Ten Tunes for Bedtime." After all, that is the whole purpose of the album, instrumental lullabies that'll ease toddlers into slumberland. Reviewing CDs such as this are often the hardest. Because there are no vocals or lyrics to scribble about, we are left with a collection of soft-spoken soundscapes that offer little eclecticism but plenty of buttermilk-smooth segues.
Clarkson's instrument of choice is the mandolin, and aside from samples of falling rain and birds chirping, it's all you will hear on this disc. "Meow Meow Baby" was produced with infants in mind. As ambience music for the preschool set, it works wonderfully; it certainly had a calming effect on my one-year-old. But what about us grown-ups? Thankfully, Clarkson's playing is just as soothing to jaded adult ears as it is to the wide-eyed perspective of the diaper crowd. "OK, One More Kiss" and "Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite" have dreamy, lush textures; Clarkson's mandolin has a hypnotic, easygoing pull that creates a peaceful nighttime vibe.
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All of the tracks on "Meow Meow Baby" blend into one another; it nearly all sounds the same, but the uniformity of the tunes is crucial - you don't want kids being jarred from sleep.
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