Moondog - H'art Songs (1978 Reissue) (1999)

Moondog's 1979 release, H'art Songs, is a collection of, yes, little ditties. All the songs here have a simple, traditional song structure, minimally orchestrated with voice, piano, and the occasional gong or drum. There are very few (if any) chord changes throughout the whole disc, and the chord changes that are present here are very repetitive. The melodies, however, have a grandiose or celestial feel to them, making the music feel bigger or fuller than it is -- and it is this that really makes the music exciting, utilizing unusual chord structures. Lyrics are decidedly political, featuring songs about animal rights, pacifism, the evils of eating meat, and a biting critique of modern colonial expansion. The piano parts are primarily in the upper registers, and this gives the music a chimey sound which compliments Moondog's baritone voice very nicely. A bit too singsongy for more pedestrian tastes and so political that the art suffers somewhat. An interesting turn for Moondog from his more complex compositions.