Midnight Moon is only a minute and forty eight seconds long but Casual Technicians have crafted a little world of wonder during its brief existence that’s utterly captivating. It’s an intrinsically intertwined coagulation of disparate ingredients – part country-lounge noir, part vintage easy-listening, part baroque theatricality – it’s absolutely superb- and places my mind back to the brief moment on the noughties when artful individuality linked arms with broad brush-stroked ‘Americana’ in thrilling technicolour.
I love everything about this song – the shuffling rhythms, the warbling swing of the steel guitar (wavering as it does like some vintage animation), the way the vocals begin to soar and stretch their cracked croon. It’s a warm, heartfelt, entirely enthralling thing – and when those voices take flight – however briefly- you feel like standing, back straight, and saluting! Yes … yes … and more yes please. It’s just wonderful!
This has utter confidence in itself and the sonic world it inhabits – it feels immersed in American musical history but yet gloriously of its own time too. The rest of the album’s not out until November – but this is enough to sate the appetite for now. Casual Technicians are true masters of their craft.
Written by M. A Welsh (Misophone)
Music | Misophone (bandcamp.com)
