reax music magazine :: music + culture » Reviews » Morningbell - Through the Belly of the Sea

My punk rock inner child would most likely punch me in the face for liking this album, but I don’t care.  I can’t recall ever hearing or even seeing a ‘choose your own adventure’ album, so the prospect of receiving this CD was quite exciting to say the least.  Morningbell has never been a band that shies away from clever and original ways to get their music across; this album is a testament to that.  Reading through the cover sleeve will present the listener with vivid instructions and puzzling questions to navigate through 12 tracks dealing with a sub-nautical adventure.  While this is not conducive to a person listening alone while driving their car, it does present a new way to listen to an album at home, and as a fan of the ‘choose your own adventure’ genre of literature as a child, this was actually a lot fun for me.  Musically the album represents a slight departure from their previous releases but heavy Flaming Lips and Beatles influences remain ever present.  That said, this band is a fascinating collection of gifted musicians, and their latest offering creates a unique new way to experience a sound that deserves to be heard. – James Ferreira