Ruby Moon’s Rusty Dreams, released August 21 via Eighty Six Productions, is a brief but striking 12-minute journey that thrives in atmosphere. The EP feels like being carried through a rainy city night—shoegaze haze, dream pop textures, electronic touches, and lo-fi edges all weaving into a tranquil but dynamic soundscape. It’s the kind of late-night soundtrack that comforts while still offering enough quirks to keep your ears wide awake.
The opener “Jerry Maguire” sets a golden-hour glow, romantic and nostalgic in a way that makes the film-inspired title feel earned. I immediately knew I would like the song from the title alone, so it was nice that the song confirmed my belief and was such a strong opener. From there, the tempo charges up with “Coping,” an upbeat electronic-pop cut that leans into a chilled nightclub energy, showing Ruby Moon’s ability to shift pace and tempo without losing the EP’s cohesiveness. On the other hand, “There She Goes” offers a stark moment of stillness—its stripped-down vocals and bare instrumentation stretch time, almost dragging you into its repetition, before transitioning smoothly into “New and Old.”
Closing track “Eyes Wide Shut” delivers another cinematic nod, and it’s a tasteful one. The finale ties the EP together, encapsulating its enjoyable fusion of dreamy atmosphere and quiet experimentation.
Written by Nthatile Mavuso
