Various Artists - 'Colours Are Brighter' (Rough Trade) Released 16/10/06

'Colours Are Brighter' is the cutest, brightest short album that will take you back to your carefree childhood days and makes you long to be read stories whilst sat on your Mum’s lap. It is a wonderful idea of Belle & Sebastian’s – a collection of songs recorded for children where every single penny of profit made goes directly to Save The Children. Most of the songs are aimed specifically at children to listen to, but it is plenty amusing enough for us grown ups to enjoy as well. 

How about Franz Ferdinand singing “1 cake, 2 cakes, I like the taste of tasty cakes”, or Snow Patrol reminiscing about the days when you could be anything you wanted to be just through your own imagination? Appealing? Damn right, just like those tasty cakes that Franz so love. Think back to the off-beat humour of Roald Dahl when listening to album opener ‘Go Go Ninja Dinosaur’ by Four Tet, and chuckle at Belle & Sebastian telling the story of how ‘The Monkeys Are Breaking Out The Zoo’.

In the middle of the CD, The Divine Comedy sit like the Grandad at the head of the table – with the longest track and the best known children’s character. Their ode to Winnie The Pooh is like being bounced up and down on their collective knees and told a charming little tale. But there are also the slower numbers for those more reflective moments. There won’t be a dry in the house for Jonathan Richman’s ‘Our Dog Is Getting Older Now’, with its acoustic guitar, mournful lyrics and melancholy clarinet accompaniment.  And finally, album closer ‘Night Baking’ by Kathryn Williams is the perfect finale for tired out children. 

But even if you don’t have children, give this album a listen and shame on anyone who doesn’t have a huge grin on their face, because it is so much fun!  Whatever the age, whatever music you’re into, it’s for a great cause. And if such high profile bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Kooks think it’s cool enough, then it damn well must be.