A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by someone from Rockabye Baby! to see if I would be interested in their latest release.
Rockabye Baby! are a US company (with a brand new UK store) who produce a wide range of albums on CD which feature rock classics from artists as varied as AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and so many more.
But these CDs are not like any other. Each title has been carefully reproduced into instrumental lullabies that, whilst still recognisable to adult listeners as the songs they love, are now soothing enough to calm, relax and even send your baby to sleep.
Always one to try something new, I said, "Yes please!" and was thrilled to find the CD had arrived last weekend...
This is their latest release, a compilation of songs by Depeche Mode, including Personal Jesus, Just Can't Get Enough, and Everything Counts.
I was keen to open the CD and give it a whirl and was pleasantly surprised by just how easy it was to listen to. Unlike so many musical items made for babies, each track was beautifully arranged using mellotrons, vibraphones and bells. Don't get me wrong, the instruments of choice do make it sound very similar to what other producers of musical items for babies are aiming for, so you're not in for a 'never-before-heard' kind of sensation. But it avoids that rather 'plinky-plonk' and grating sound that so many baby items have (you know, the one that makes you take the batteries out and pretend it is broken!)
I think the thing I liked most about it, though, was the variety of songs on there. A few months ago we bought a musical mobile for Oscar's cot and it has done something very similar but with classical music. However, the mobile only has two different melodies and quite quickly grew to irritate both of us adults who had to listen to it every time Oscar cried and set it off. With 12 different tracks on this album, we have yet to think, "if I hear that song one more time, I think I'll go mad!"
But what did Oscar think?
Well, he is a real lover of sounds and music. He lights up whenever anyone starts singing to him and enjoys daddy's rapping as much as mummy's nursery rhymes. So it isn't really that surprising that he rather enjoyed listening to this collection of songs.
I can't say that it has helped soothe him to sleep, as it seems only white noise will do that particular trick at the moment. But it is great being able to put the CD on and know there is something interesting in the background for him, giving mummy's voice a break. And the fact that mummy can sing along if she wants to is even better!
So, would I recommend Rockabye Baby? Sure I would!
But more importantly for you, I guess, is would you like to be in with a chance of winning a copy of their latest release, the Lullaby Renditions of Depeche Mode?
Well then, it couldn't be simpler.
How to win a copy of this CD
There are three ways you can enter:
- Visit the Rockabye Baby! store and then leave a comment here, telling me which album you would buy and why
- Follow Rockabye Baby! on Twitter
- 'Like' Rockabye Baby! on Facebook
Choose one, or choose all three, it's up to you. You will receive one entry into the prize draw for each option you choose (a maximum of 3 entries per person).
Obviously, if you choose options 2 and 3 you will need to leave me a comment telling me this, otherwise I won't know to count your entries.
The boring, but important bits... please read!
The winner will be picked, at random, on Saturday 4th February at 6pm GMT. If the winning entry was via Twitter or Facebook, I will of course be checking that the entry was valid, so please don't say you have done something when you haven't.
The winner will be contacted via email the week commencing Monday 6th February. So do remember to leave a valid email address.
In the event that the winner cannot be contacted, a second draw will be made.
Good Luck!
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