For the longest time, I have believed in the idea of fake it until you make it. It is the feeling that whatever you do, do with your whole heart. Do it with confidence and conviction, own what it is you are doing.
And I get this scene when I listen to The Neptune Power Federation’s latest release Memoirs of a Rat Queen.
Look, I’m not a fan of rock or even a rock/metal mix, but I was bobbing to this. The foot was definitely engaging in rhythmic tapping. I don’t really go in for the whole, ‘bow down to the queen’ sort of stuff, but I think this is a solid product. The vocal performance is awesome, a great mix of clean groovy singing and strained excitable flurry. The production is an interesting mix of a crisp fresh sound and old school 70s rock, but somehow it works. I will say that occasionally a guitar note in a solo or two are interesting choices, and fall a little off on my ear (perhaps that is some of its charms?) but coming from metal roots (and being a guitarist myself) means I’m going to pick on something like that.
I think I’m best to review this release using metaphors: It’s like an old blanket that I forgot about and found the last time I had to move and uproot the whole family. It gave me the comfort that I didn’t know I needed. There’s something strangely familiar yet new and fresh in this release; like Elmo entered Sesame Street with a leather jacket with ‘I don’t give any f@#ks’ printed on the back.
Just check it out and you’ll know what I mean. Suitable for those whose bellbottoms just won’t quit.
Release Year: 2019
Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
Category: Album
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Liam Frost-Camilleri
