MoonfaceOrgan Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped
Jagjaguwar

Moonface is that odd brain child of Wolf Parade/Sunset Rubdown frontman Spencer Krug and is in many ways a departure from the music that brought him into the alternative music spotlight. As the awesome title suggests, it is organ music in many different ways with arpeggios and drum machines playing the background to Spencer's stylised lyrics.

With only five tracks on the album, each track averages in at just under eight minutes in length and the whole album almost feels like a collection of recorded jam sessions than the traditional song format. The first track 'Return to the Violence of the Ocean Floor' is in someways an upbeat track and it wouldn't have sounded out of place on Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic soundtrack. The vintage synths/organs are all sequenced upon each other and evolve into a sprawling soundscape that acts as an intriguing gateway to the rest of the record.

The pace is changed as 'Whale Song (Song Instead of a Kiss)' takes a similar approach but on the organ appregiator accompaniment button he has selected a minor key. The music sounds like what the Soviets saw 1999 being back in the seventies, Spencer’s voice has a more modern approach to it with modern vocal effects adding an extra dimension to the song. 'Is that the saddest thing to know' is the main lyric played upon and repeated within the middle of the track and is the closest thing to a chorus. The music ascends and creates an intense and alerting atmosphere as new organ sequences enter and electronic drums repeat and grow to a calming, yet alienating conclusion.

'Fast Peter' has been in some ways acting as the lead single for the album but also in some ways is the albums weakest track. Themes of drug use, love and death are the inspiration of the tracks vocals and it is not until the mid to late parts of the track that the music grows to fit the vocal delivery. This song sounds more 'Organ Music' than the rest of the album. Notes are held and sound more played than sequenced. A key stretching solo runs for the final three minutes of the track and lures you in as if it would be more impressive to see this organ line played out than if it were a run of the mill guitar solo.

'Shit-Hawk in the Snow' sounds briefly familiar for the first few bars and then very quickly goes into the same style as the rest of the album. It does sound a lot like you have heard it before on the album, but in many ways is sort of a continuation as to what has been before. An Arabian like organ solo is present which tag teams as lead instrument with Krug's vocals. The drone like note that is present from the beginning plays with your head and sends the track into psychedelic territory with all the other instrumentation present.

The final track on the record is 'Loose Heart = Loose Plan' and is also the albums shortest track. The emphasis is taken away from sprawling soundscapes (for the most part) and more emphasis is placed on rhythm and space. It is almost danceable as the drums have a disco type quality and together with the lead organ creates something that sounds like it could have been off any Wolf Parade release.

A notable mention has to go to the albums B-Side track 'The Way You Wish You Could Live in the Storm' which in my opinion is the best track Moonface have released. It is an excellent representation as to the style of the album and is maybe its most identifiable (which maybe the reason as to why it was not featured on the album). Spencer's voice is more of a tensioned wailing sound which sounds closer to his discoverer Issac Brock and is rather catchy. You can download the track for free here http://moonface.ca/song_organ.php

This album is the second release by Moonface and is far more experimental than the 20min 'Marimba and Shit Drums' EP of one track. This album is definitely not for everyone however the people that like it upon first listen would hold it in high regard when reflecting upon Spencer Krug’s career.

The electronic nature of the release sort of picks up upon where Expo 86 wets its feet in. Unlike fellow Wolf Paradian Dan Boeckner side project Handsome Furs, it is not an electronic release that warrants dancing and instead takes queues from psychedelic and various experimental sources. It sounds as if The Knife were KGB.

The albums jam like quality and length make it sound more like a demonstration of musical talent rather then the ability to write pop hooks which is also a talent Spencer possesses through his musings through Wolf Parade. It is different and definitely intriguing. Whether it keeps you amused, however, it is definitely up to individual opinion. Personally I loved it and this makes me not care as much as to whether Wolf Parade get back together or not.


MoonfaceOrgan Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped

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