From the title song, “Fun O’Clock,” an upbeat pop tune about telling time to the last, “Down on Lemongrass Lane,” a 1920s-style ditty, In the Nick of Time’s fourth studio CD is a joyful, enriching listening tour of musical styles. In the Nick of Time is a husband-and-wife duo, Nick Deysher and Tracey Freitag, who have birthed several pleasant surprises on their album, like the Renaissance madrigal turned rock ballad, “Hey Nonny No” and the ’80s hip-hop song “Mama Don’t Allow” with its tip of the hat to the Beastie Boys’ “Brass Monkey.”
The CD’s messages are positive and educational yet still compelling — perhaps a result of Deysher’s experience as a preschool teacher and music specialist at the Smith College Center for Early Childhood Education at Fort Hill, Massachusetts. “Fun O’Clock” is recommended for ages 2-8 and the parents that want to fill their Christmas stockings — and ears — with an eclectic mix of great music.
“Fun O’Clock” CD by In the Nick of Time, $12, www.cdbaby.com.