(Photo Credit: Noel Woodford)
We had an opportunity to get advance access to Arthur Moon's new self-titled record which drops on TODAY. We also had the chance to do an Artist Spotlight with her! Check out our review of the album and our interview below!
Album Review - Arthur Moon - Arthur Moon - by Anna Chaney
Arthur Moon’s new self-titled debut album is a breath of fresh air. Each track can be described as both whimsical and unique. The eclectic layered sounds come together to create a tune that is deconstructed yet perfectly composed.
Homonormo is a standout track on this vibey electro-pop record, with its buzzing harmonies and avant garde rhythms. Another exceptional track, Reverse Conversion, has a bolder, mysterious feel to it. The reverb-heavy track creates a full, raw sound that is hard-hitting and badass.
Myelin reminds one of indie folktronica singer Gordi because of its steady and intense vocals and unique harmonies. It’s got a warped space-sonic type sound and is a great addition to this record. I Feel Better is another must-listen, an upbeat and punchy song with a quirky rhythm. The extensive use of galactic synth sounds with a sprinkle of strings makes this song extra special.
Closing Thoughts - Overall, this record is one you won’t get tired of. These deconstructed pop tunes still sound carefully constructed in the best way, where accidents were turned purposeful. The album celebrates accidents and uniqueness, blurring the lines between “wrong” and “right.” The intricate layers in every song allow listeners to play this record on repeat and discover a new element each time. In short, this is just some cool stuff.
Rating - 4.5/5
Artist Spotlight by Michael La Torre
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I started writing songs in high school on a Gibson Epiphone lent to me by my uncle and I haven't ever stopped, even though I accidentally broke that guitar a long time ago (clearly still feeling guilty). I decided after I graduated from college to pursue it professionally which was probably an odd choice given that I didn't study music, and couldn't read music (still can't!)."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"It changes--sometimes I cut up magazine articles and make poems by pasting the words together, which eventually inspire lyrics. Lately, I've been more interested in writing on instruments or in contexts that feel uncomfortable to me, in an effort to make mistakes and surprise myself in the process (a lot of this record was written on piano and vocoder, both of which are new writing instruments for me)."
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Joni Mitchell's work often feels like a grand permission. Her album Hejira, in particular, was introduced to me by the artist/old bandmate of mine Raia Was, who is also a big inspiration to me. She just started dropping music from her debut album this month, produced by Autre Ne Veut. Don't miss it."
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"Vocoder is my favorite right now. I've been on a long quest for the perfect vocoder for my needs (Here's some nerdery: the Roland Boutique module was close, but not quite right in terms of working for live contexts, and the Electro-Harmonix V256 sounded great but also wasn't the right fit in terms of overtone to rub against my vocals)--BUT I just got the new vocoder that Behringer just released and it's amazing! I think it'll be with me at our show at the Elsewhere Rooftop on July 10, and probably on my stripped down duo tour opening for Oh Land this fall."
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"Usually, we're a 5-piece these days-- lots of synths, lots of vocal harmonies, lots of drums and electronic percussion, occasionally an out-of-tune banjo solo."
"My favorite venues are venues with great people--engineers who are happy to be there, etc. Doesn't matter how fancy the gear or how divey and stinky, as long as the people are good and kind and care about the music and the experience of the people making it."
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"Omg the Public! Honestly I'll settle for the broader public knowing about my music in general."
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
"Vinyl Me Please is putting out an early limited edition run of our debut full-length in July, and we're digitally dropping a new song and really beautiful music video to celebrate."