Three albums, 23-06-2022

Three more albums that were on their way to escape this blog, but caught together in a smaller post, so that they receive the spotlight they deserve anyway.

Skipping To Maloo. Ernest Moon

What a moment of rest and relaxation Skipping To Maloo offers. It is as if Ernest Moon knows no pressure, no time, no nothing caused by anything having to do with clocks, let alone the virtual world. Song after song the duo takes its time to slowly play them out. Combine that with nice melodies, a pleasant voice and away I go on a slowboat to China for all I care.

Ernest Moon is a duo from Liverpool, in the U.K. I assume. Steven Doran and Brian Murphy started working together as Ernest Moon in 2017, but played together before in Betty Backscuttle. Ernest has released two EPs and is now on its first full-length album. On drums you hear Jake Woodward, on strings and backing vocals Amy Chalmers and Vicky Reid.

The album meanders ever so nicely, until somewhere in the South China Sea a cyclone hits the ship in the form of 'Big Wow'. The tempo goes up and finally I understand why the bio speaks of an "indierock band". Ernest Moon shows off its chops in combining rockabilly with new wave of the late 70s. Just as suddenly the storm hit that slowboat it disappeared again, as with 'Big Wow' I have reached the end of the album. A bit of a surprise but a nice one. Playing the album once again, I back in that slowrolling sound once again. Closing my eyes, listening and enjoying is all I have to do.

The Early Years. Wolf Vanwymeersch

Pop from Belgium. Of course that pop comes with a twist and The Early Years is no exception. Expect extremely nice songs to come at you. Every single one well produced, sounding so nice and then the curve ball comes at you, in various, musical ways.

Who Is Wolf Vanwymeersch? To me he is a totally new name, but has made a name for himself as it turns out. He started in a band called Waldorf. Then played guitar in the band The Van Jets, of which I must have a, digital, album on one of the many hard drives of the past and finally Elephant, but not the recent Rotterdam one. Whether Covid was the reason to go solo, I can't tell. Fact is Vanwymeersch released his first solo song during the pandemic and his first EP in 2021. This spring a solo album is added to his roster.

In a few ways it is a true solo album, as there is not a band(like sound) in sight in most, not all songs. A voice, acoustic guitars (sometimes with effects on them), a keyboard, on and off a bass, and a lot of electronic percussion. This describes much of The Early Years. On the whole it is enough. It gives the album its very distinct, own vibe. Take note, Vanwymeersch is a Bowie fan, especially his 1980s work and has a little of Bowie's diction in a few songs.

It all gives The Early Years a dark sheen hanging over the pop music. Which is totally alright. Who said pop has to be poppy? The album gets a deeper layer with this dark sound and becomes the more interesting because of it.

If I Never Know You Like This Again. Soak

I had intended to listen to this album time and again but never got around to it. Sometimes it happens. There are so many releases and limited time available.

When I listened to Soak's single recently, I knew the time had come. With If I Never Know You Like This Again Soak, Bridie Monds-Watson, walks an alternative rock path. And tries to sound as alternative as say The Libertines. Just listen to her diction and singing in opening song 'Purgatory'. It is that against all odds Pete Doherty is still alive, otherwise Soak could have been his reincarnation in a non-binary form. Musically they are less tough here but makes up for that in 'Last July', where the guitars are ronking and honking away.

Soak is from Northern Ireland, Derry. They debuted in 2015 with the album 'Before We Forget How To Dream', of which Erwin Zijleman wrote at the time: "One of the most special debut albums of 2015" and "a totally own, unique sound". Until single 'Swear Jar' things were silent on this blog. There's no trace of 'Grim Town' (2018) here. Were things too hard after being lauded as a major talent at the age of 18?

Bridie Monds-Watson now is 25 and delivers a mature album, written and recorded with Tommy McLaughlin (Villagers). Three influences are noted by the band itself. Broken Social Scene, 'The Bends' and Pavement. That may well be. I notice two things. First, that Soak certainly has heard a band like Wolf Alice. We are not just living in the past here, and, second, that Soak is in great form. With songs that vary from alternative rock, to alternative, electrified folk and indie as the in between form, the album has a nice musical range. It can all be found on If I Never Know You Like This Again. Expect an outburst every once in while to shake things up a little. Soak seems to do everything just right and at the right moments. Each song well-balanced, interesting and good. A nice mix is offered.

Wout de Natris

 

You can listen to and order The Early Years here:

https://wolfvanwymeersch.bandcamp.com/album/the-early-years

and If I Never Know You Like This Again here:

https://soakmusic.bandcamp.com/album/if-i-never-know-you-like-this-again