Childhood friends David Long (Into Paradise) and Shane O'Neill (Blue In Heaven) have hooked up to release an album made solely during lockdown. 'Moll & Zeis' is out now on Pylon Recordings.
The two Dublin songwriters have known since the age of six and this connection resonates in the fluency of the album. Lyrically, an air of mystique looms throughout which lends a beautifully open quality to the songs.
Title track 'Moll & Zeis' maybe be about a US pilot but, for anyone unwillingly saying goodbye to love, it provides an eloquent outlet. The ethereal beauty that emerges from the guitars builds a mournful but hopeful turn away from the past.
The 'Earth Moves' protagonist cuts a forlorn figure, who agitates for clarity of mind but is still beset by fog. The track’s triumphant moment comes from its rejection of “man up”, a phrase no one should be uttering in 2021.
The darker moments of the album come via the Primal Scream inspired 'In Out' and 'Morning Song'. The former conjures images of a wayward soul going beyond its means. It brings in those heavily shrouded drug moments of 'Vanishing Point' like 'Trainspotting' or 'Long Life'. Meanwhile, 'Morning Song', grooves like their dub classic 'Echo Dub' but, crucially, adds nuggets of psyche to carry it to higher planes.
The album is given a cut through and immediacy from 'Far From Home' and 'For You'. 'Far From Home' strips back New Order's 'Crystal' to portray a fragile character reflecting upon a relationship. Their take is more New Order at sunrise rather than sunset which, allows a joyous tension to arise between past and present during the solo. Whereas, 'For You' finds a slot somewhere between Beatles and The Beta Band for the album’s most pop-friendly moment.
Human connections have been lost this past year. No matter how much you jump on Zoom, it doesn't suffice. Yet, somehow, Long and O'Neill's life-long connection has burrowed through the inhuman aspects of technology to really connect musically. One can only imagine what could happen if they were in a studio together.