Melancholy atmospheres and hook-laden vocal harmonies are just part of
Lo Moon's game, which they deliver flawlessly on their debut. The California-based trio first made their appearance on the scene in 2016 with the sprawling, seven-minute ballad "Loveless" Also featured here, it’s not surprising that "Loveless" was chosen to introduce the group's sound. Composed of sorrowful yet hopeful chords carried with thudding bass and finger-clicking snare weaving throughout the mix, the track is punctuated by thundering drum rolls in its huge choruses, making for a perfect example of the band's overall feel. What is most impressive about the record is how
Lo Moon have taken the arguably "tiresome" aspects of some atmospheric music and merely used them as a base layer for piling on the accessible traits of mainstream pop/rock. Such innovation is illustrated on "The Right Thing," with its arpeggiated minor chords swirling throughout with bright bursts of synth hugging the hopeful vocal track. "Thorns" is stylistically akin to the work of
Cocteau Twins or the softer moments in
Tears for Fears' back catalog, with a welcome vocal contribution from bass guitarist/keyboardist Crisanta Baker and guitarist Sam Stewart. The track even packs in some resonant, seductive brass in its bridge section. Elsewhere, highlights include "TTMYMO (Tried to Make You My Own)," which recalls the occasionally pensive nature of
Fleetwood Mac's
Tango in the Night. Another surefire strength for
Lo Moon is just how passionate and illustrative their lyrics are; once again, "Loveless" delivers magnetic imagery with lyrics such as "Crosses in the distance bells ring fast, Loveless in our shelter time will pass, would you take a chance on us?” and "Blessed love the love I need, Rolling drums the loveless bleed." These kinds of lyrics paint pictures that can be simultaneously morose and inspiring, avoiding the stock repetition of 2010's mainstream love songs by imbuing them with the bold creativity and vicissitude of songwriting in the '80s and early '90s. All in all,
Lo Moon is an impressive debut. ~ Rob Wacey