MOONTYPE - BODIES OF WATER
Moontype takes us on a journey down a river of youthful energy that is at once vibrant and tranquil with their debut album, Bodies of Water, out now.
Moontype have cultivated a style that is at once incredibly boisterous and delightfully subtle. Their debut album, Bodies of Water, is a raucous explosion of youthful energy that actively resists confining itself to a single genre. It is more than dreampop: their expert blend of Midwest indie, hazy shoegaze and elements of 90’s grunge ensures that this album is a musical journey filled with surprises as it deviates across a wide range of moods and emotions. In spite of its improvisational and thrashy tone, there is a sense that every sound has been meticulously crafted to deliver a subversively saccharine listening experience.
Bodies of Water is an apt title for an album of such mellifluous quality. The capricious sound of the Chicago trio naturally meanders between crashing waves of frenetic energy and lazy rivers of sleepy fingerpicking. Tracks such as ‘Your Mom,’ demonstrate this expert control over pacing and emotion. The seemingly delicate track ebbs and flows in energy and intensity before suddenly exploding in a hazy crescendo of thrashing guitars and drums.
While Moontype rely on a relatively simple ensemble of acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums, they use them with creative precision. It is when the music from these individual instruments dissolve into a viscous wall of sound that their music is most enjoyable. Their single ‘Ferry’ is unapologetically bold, radiating a youthful energy that is obstreperous, untameable and at times, slightly abrasive. This rowdy noise is perfectly contrasted by McCarthy’s vocals, which imbue the album with a sense of constant tension between delicacy and explosive passion. Her soothing voice is almost ethereal, dripping with emotion, and is responsible for the enchanting quality of songs like ‘3 Weeks.’ Music takes precedence over lyrics and at times her voice takes on an instrumental quality itself.
Amidst the hypnotic vocals and upbeat music it is easy to overlook the underlying melancholy present in the lyrics. Ferry is marked by a sense of loss, as “Friendship only lasts so long/ When we grow, we grow apart/ I’m left floating in the dark” While lyrics reflect pain and insecurity, this isn’t a sad album. Emotions are expressed defiantly and without shame, as the band learns to overcome negativity through the act of self-expression.
Bodies of Water is marked by a sense of immediacy, yet the album possesses a distinctly nostalgic quality. Every so often a riff or motif that is reminiscent of some 90’s band, be it Nirvana, Wheezer, or Beach House. These snippets are tastefully scattered throughout, immersing themselves into the album rather than threatening to disrupt. The halcyon world of Moontype has a timeless feel to it, as nostalgia is transmuted into something tangible that interacts with the present rather than remaining stuck in the past.
Bodies of Water is the definitive soundtrack to a carefree summer’s day. It balances vibrancy with tranquillity, youth with nostalgia, sadness and joy. Moontype has certainly exceeded expectations with this fantastic album that is sure to be a favourite.
George Starkie
★★★★☆