Following the same name as the band, ‘Moon Orchids’ is a delightful exploration of sound from the Michigan band. Filled to the brim with different genres and songs that explore the spectrum of emotions, ‘Moon Orchids’ is an album which deserves to be played from speakers worldwide.
‘The Gospel Tree II’ starts off the album. With a slight Western tinge, it’s a guitar-focused and bittersweet track. Jacob Simons’ raw vocals and melancholic songwriting stand out amongst the crowded backdrop of instruments, making for a wonderful and touching listen each time. Further highlighted by lyrics like “I didn’t ask for an answer, I wouldn’t ask for one now”, it makes for the perfect opener to this beauty of an album.
The next three tracks are a thrilling exploration of the album’s themes. Each with a different point to prove, it makes for a brilliant listen and leaves you excited to see how the album’s going to progress. Stripped right back with just Simons’ vocals and guitars, ‘You Don’t Need A History’ is the shortest track on the whole LP and helps to break up the anger in both ‘Universe Blues’ and ‘Taciturn’. The songs draw upon a lot of influences, whether accidental or not, from bands such as LCD Soundsystem and early The Vaccines, which is made especially apparent by Jeremy Cronk’s bass style. Despite its title, ‘Taciturn’ speaks volumes. With a slight edge to the song and lyrics including “I tried to hide in the darkness but the feelings came back all at once”, it helps to guide the album into an angrier and more frantic direction, all of which quickly proves why ‘Moon Orchids’ should become cemented in your ‘on repeat’.
Next up is my favourite track, ‘She Circles The Nest’, on the shorter side, which helps to brighten up the album as it follows the story of a nameless girl. Happy and carefree, ‘She Circles The Nest’ makes us realise that we should all adopt a little of the girl’s perspective into our everyday lives.
The song takes on a more folky-rock influence with the wailing guitars really helping to cement this song as my favourite and hopefully yours too.
Being juxtaposed with each other, the next two tunes really help to drive the album forward. ‘November’ has no time for messing about, dragging you deep into the depths of craziness; it’s a fuzzy wash of noise where Morgan Keltie gets a chance to shine on vocals. In contrast, ‘Shab Bekheir’ is a lot calmer with just Simons’ and his guitar gently lulling us, taking its name from the Persian for goodnight, the song is reminiscent of a bedtime lullaby. Simons’ vocals take on an almost Tom Higgenson (Plain white T’s) quality, further helping to prove how great this album is while segueing us nicely onto the last track.
Rounding us off is ‘The Gospel Tree’. It’s one of the heavier tracks on the album, bursting with swirling and soaring guitars and a warm, distorted fuzz of noise; it makes for the perfect closer to such a sensation of an album.
‘Moon Orchids’ by Moon Orchids displays just how much the band has to offer and how one small band from the States can make waves worldwide.
Written by Madi Briggs
