Debut album from this multi-national prog outfit.

‘Red Room Blue’ marks the debut album from this multi-national prog outfit that go by the quirky moniker of My Name Is Janet. Originally conceived back in 2009 My Name Is Janet is comprised of Jim Aviva on vocals and keyboards, King Diamond guitarist Andy Larocque (who also handles production), Eric Rauti (Dreamland, Torch) on bass and Alexx (Dreamland) on drums. As you might expect there is a heavy concept running throughout with the eight songs representing the eight emotional conditions of a man who is struggling to break free of his past and in order to find happiness has to visit each of the red rooms in turn and (metaphorically) break down the doors to reveal the solution in the free world. Parallel to all of this going on My Name Is Janet have also incorporated elements of the biblical tale of The Tower of Babel into the narrative. Phew!

If all of that has piqued your interest then the music within ‘Red Room Blue’ is primarily 70’s inspired retro-prog with a modern twist that seamlessly blends together various mood changes. It is also distinguished from the considerable number of similar releases by its diversity with spoken word sections and an array of shifts in tempo and motives throughout. The ten minute opener ‘Tower of Babel’ sets the scene for much of what follows, a well crafted, keyboard-drenched composition with Aviva soloing maniacally during the widdly mid-section interlude. ‘On The Powerful Wave’ is a lively, jazz-inspired freak out that gives way to ‘World’s Not Tragic’, a guitar driven hard rocker set against a backdrop of ambient keyboard sounds that evoke memories of Camel and Peter Bardens. The title track sees Larocque let off the leash to deliver a short solo with Aviva’s vocals running the gamut from Peter Gabriel to Adrian Belew and at times being truly bizarre. Final track ‘Babel’ is something of a missed opportunity as it seems to be heading in the direction of a stirring finale but actually comes to a stuttering halt.

Musically intriguing and versatile but My Name Is Janet’s unconventional approach may simply be too inaccessible for even prog aficionados to embrace.

Dean Pedley