By calling this EP "Harvest moon", it can either be construed as slightly pretentious, or a sincere tribute to the great man's all-time classic. During 2009 I have seen Kid Charlemagne perform live twice. Once here at Esquires, and the other was in the picturesque surroundings of Ampthill Park for their summer festival. Upon receiving this CD, I was somewhat curious to find out how their songs and sound transferred. The duo, Simon Gutteridge (multi-instrumentalist) and Ian Stonnell (lead guitar), went to Effort Studios in Bedford. With production and recording duties taken on by the highly respected Mat Roberts, this is the result.

As a collection of songs, the contrast is excellent. Six tracks (at just under thirty minutes) that will either make you smile or just reflect upon things. The former is firmly the case for the opening "Wanting More". With a whole array of instruments at their disposal, there is a distinctive melodic harmony that dovetails together perfectly.

With a slightly familiar intro (that I could not nail down), "Way Down Low" also passes the 'hummability' test. The almost poetic lyrics are at strength with the chorus of "Place your hands over my eyes to hide the things I despise".

The mood of "Harvest Moon" changes with "Can't Fool Me". With lines such as "Circling vultures like lambs to the slaughter", the bulk of this song certainly cuts to the quick. It's bleak and stark, but is warmly lifted by the constant sounds of the euphonium. An interesting and ingenious addition.

"Head Up" is possibly the catchiest and overtly poppiest song that Kid Charlemagne give us on the EP. It's bright and ever so witty. With the following "Chin Up Kid", we certainly switch to the wistful. Almost glacial in its make up, there is such emotional intensity. However, this pales in comparison with "The weight". This composition delivers a far darker beast, and it's not the one that crawled out from Kid Charlemagne's lake (a line from the song)! With a grand piano intro, it's almost hymn-like with the biblical opening lyrics "Well I crossed paths with Jesus and his hands are all bleeding". Must be all those loaves to distribute. Well what of "The garden of Eden and it needs to be weeded"? Lyrically, "The Weight" is, for this reviewer at least, a chance for Kid Charlemagne to pay homage (or copy or be inspired by) to "The drugs don't work" (nineties Verve). Brutal and honest, its soaring finale rounds off a song which spans almost eight minutes.

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