Review: Million Moons ‘You Be Good, I Love You’
If you like your post-rock full of sweeping soundscapes, textured guitars and glittering keys, and you also like music that has a message about the wider animal kingdom, then the third and latest release from Million Moons is going to be something that you’ll appreciate.
The album title refers to the last words of an African grey parrot called Alex, who was studied carefully by scientists, so step inside this brave new world.
The eight new tracks are close to the heart of guitarist and pianist Edward Thompson, who, away from the band, also happens to be a marine conservationist, said,‘the world is full of so many amazing creatures, and it’s truly sad what has happened to their habitats as a result of human activity.’ The wonderfully crafted songs reflect an ambitious concept record, which, in their words, ‘invites the listeners to reflect on the nature of consciousness other than our own.’
It’s an adventurous journey, and one that begins with the elegant Titan Of The Deep, as the expansive nature of their music dramatically unfolds before you. A pounding drum from Solomon Radley clashes with heavy guitars as the music bares its soul, moving peacefully and harmoniously between soft and harsh rhythms, to conjure images of the ‘mysterious colossal squid’, but you’ll have to take Thompson’s word for that. This is followed by Last Days Together, a song which pays homage to a beloved pet, and you can hear the mournful, sombre tone embedded in the music as poignant piano notes are played, yet the sound evolves effortlessly across the composition.
layered sounds float and mould together like an amphibious creature drifting on water…
Black Sun Rising is a powerful and striking piece of work as guitars from Thompson and Freddie Harisson soar higher to new dimensions, whilst Thundering Footsteps represents the Great Nile Migration. When I first heard it, my thoughts centred around a lonely trek across the Sahara Desert due to its dramatic nature and with an impressive bass from Jay Millar, the chords are woven together for maximum effect.
The sounds are richer and deeper than the band have gone before, and on Secret Histories they have created a track which, in their own words, ‘stands alone, as a reflection on living in denial’. However, like a meandering river, it’s full of twisting melodies and bruising drums that lead to a cacophonous ending. There’s a wonderful saxophone part in Memories Of A Past Life as they incorporate new instruments into their music, and it works so well with the piano section. The quartet have explored new genres on this album, from shoegaze to prog, and it has resulted in their most dynamic work to date.
The songs are as unique as the animals they write about, with Echoes In The Abyss being symbolic of that approach, as the group says it ‘mirrors the calls of the mysterious 52-hertz-frequency whale song of 52 Blue’. It’s superbly crafted, reflective of the whole album, and its aim is to evoke images of animals and the individual personalities they have. The musical boundaries are being pushed and stretched and with the finale Floating For Eternity, their emotional attachment floods out, as the layered sounds float and mould together like an amphibious creature drifting on water.
Label: Ripcord Records | Dunk!records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
