LO MOON // 'LO MOON' - ALBUM REVIEW
ACCLAIMED INDIE TRIO LO MOON RELEASE CINEMATIC AND ENCHANTING DEBUT ALBUM
SAMUEL STEWART, MATT LOWELL AND CRISANTA BAKER, OF LO MOON
★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)
Patience is a virtue, especially in Lo Moon's case. The band - comprising of Matt Lowell, Crisanta Baker and Samuel Stewart - dropped their utterly stunning debut single 'Loveless' back in September 2016 before retreating back into hibernation, no doubt basking in the attention the track was receiving from the sidelines. This approach has enabled the band to hone their finely-tuned sound for the full-length debut: a ten track odyssey of washing soundscapes; mellow synth melodies and reverberant guitar playing to accompany Matt Lowell's high register vocals.
Indeed, it is difficult to define exactly what sound Lo Moon possesses. The band cite Peter Gabriel and Mark Hollis as influences on the record, which seems to channel elements of trip hop, synth pop and ambient throughout but never fits to one completely. The polished and crisp drum programming in particular is very comparable to Jamie xx or Bonobo, cutting through the atmospherics with precision. Crisanta Baker's synth chords wash over the listener creating a beautifully cinematic connection with Sam Stewart's guitar work, not doubt aided by the well-executed production from Chris Walla (of Death Cab for Cutie fame) and François Tétaz.
Album opener 'This is It' builds upon a foundation of hollow piano chords and finger snaps into a explosive and powerful chorus, complete with a flowing orchestral arrangement. This leads of course into 'Loveless', which even in context with the full album still sounds incredible and is one of the band's standout compositions to date. 'Real Love' provides for one of the more brash moments on the album with its unapologetically jangly chorus and recognisable bass line motif, which is a welcome change of pace on an album built on minimalistic textures. Some of the later cuts on the album don't quite live up to the mark - tracks like 'My Money' meander a bit too much and don't have the immediate impact the delicate style of Lo Moon requires - but it should be emphasised that this is few and far between.
Lo Moon have crafted a body of work that feels grand without being overly grandiose: a truly beautiful mix of atmospherics and pop songwriting that rarely feels unfocused or disengaging. It oozes melancholy and poignant euphoria all at once, enchanting and dazzling the listener. I truly cannot wait to see what comes next for them.