Salt. Half Moon Run

No one following this blog over the years will be surprised to find Half Moon Run's new album here. Several albums and a glorious live show have come by in the past decade. Somewhere recently it appears I've missed a mini album. That is made up for today with a review of the Canadian band's new full length, the superb Salt.

There's nothing new under the sun called Half Moon Run. Everything the the band excels in can be found in abundance on the new disc. Great melodies are interlaced by beautiful harmonies and interchanging lead instruments. Live the members switch instruments the whole of the time while all keep singing. Amazing me the whole show. These qualities shine through on record as well of course.There seems not a musical road the band is unwilling to explore. The result is a set of eleven songs that ooze beauty.

Officially Half Moon Run is a trio, Devon Portielje, Dylan Phillips & Conner Molander. Live a four piece. Portielje is the lead singer and main man of the band. If I remember correctly the only band member who did not switch instruments and thus the one receiving the least attention. My guess is he's quite content with this situation.

It is his voice, always a little melancholy, a bit sad and certainly dreamy, that is central in the sound of Half Moon Run. The magic only starts there though. Around him a musical world is created where his voice sort of floats on top of. An instrument here and there comes forward, to recede into the background once again, underscoring what is happening in general and not as a traditional lead solo, putting its stamp on the whole. No, it is always a part of the rest. The result is that dreamy atmosphere Half Moon Run is so good at creating. This is the strength of the band and with Salt it seems it has only gotten better.

Promo photo: Jennifer McCord

In a way Salt falls into a long tradition. I can imagine the singers my mother brought from Canada in carton sleeved albums to NL, a long time ago, Pat Boone, Frankie Laine, etc., singing sung some of these songs; in a totally different arrangement of course. In the modern arrangements Half Moon Run has created a style that is totally its own. Let me know if you know another band sounding like this.

Salt washed fully over me when listening for the first time and the second and third. I never mention Half Moon Run when asked what my favourite bands of today are. It's time to add it to my list. In October the band comes to NL for three shows and I already know I can't be present. One simply cannot have it all.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Salt here:

https://halfmoonrun.bandcamp.com/album/salt