Romeo Moon’s Wander blends mesmerising alternative rock, psychedelic and intimate folk sounds to create a raw, moody and impressive debut.
What light through yonder window breaks? It’s the passionately engaging experience of Romeo Moon’s sonic debut EP Wander.
Formed in 2013 Romeo Moon is a collective of Melbourne musicians brought together by a passion for creating spontaneous and authentic music. Written and recorded in the four months following the group’s formation, Wander was recorded and mixed under the supervision of Simon Cotter (who has previously worked with shooting star Courtney Barnett) in Fitzroy’s Bakehouse Studio. The focal point of their EP’s recording process was capturing an organic live sound.
Dispensing with the convenience and ease of digital technology Romeo Moon favored vintage instruments and recording gear, one-take tracking and a minimalistic approach to editing. The end result is six unique songs which exude character and soul.
First track Tune in Tune Out is a lengthy psychedelic tune driven by droning vocals, shimmering synth and entrancing guitar work. A building chord progression, looping rhythm and gradual layering of instruments creates rich sonic textures and an overall hypnotic sound. Make You Feel follows up with more psychedelia, but moves away from the mellow vibe of its predecessor with a more aggressive sound driven by the harder edged vocals and increasingly heavy guitar. Cryptic lyrics re-enforce the air of turbulence which pervades the track.
Third track River slows things down with an intimate acoustic ballad. Despite the complete shift in tone and energy the song’s raw feel effortlessly gels with previous tracks. Sparse, genuine vocals carry lyrics that draw analogies between a tumultuous relationship and a river. The growing intensity of the track spontaneously breaks into hammering drums and electric guitar before reverting to the initial acoustic dynamic to create a complex sound.
Lunatic Lovers is a warm and gentler acoustic piece. Stripped back instrumentation and backing harmonies play off each other to build towards a haunting climax. Afterglow is an emotionally impactful track which tells of a melancholy farewell to a lover best summed up with lyric “This is all I could write. No perfect words to say goodbye.” Every vocal is considered and controlled, creating something which can really connect. Come With Me is a memorable jam which takes the EP to a crashing conclusion. Again looping guitars are employed to create a dark rhythmic feel reminiscent of alt-rock predecessors such as Radiohead.
Romeo Moon’s Wander is an exceptional debut. The EP showcases the diversity of the band while also melding these unique tracks into an engaging and personal sonic experience.
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