Portland-based Sanae Yamada and Ripley Johnson released their seventh studio album 'Stars Are The Light' on the 27th of September via Sacred Bones. With the distinct purpose of re-imaging themselves in a world going mad, how would their synth-driven reinvention fair?
For the most part, their archetypal style remains, but, the instruments have changed. 'Fever' and 'Flying' find Ripley Johnson and Sanae Yamada finding far-out grooves to traverse. The bombast of Johnson's guitars is replaced by outer cosmos production but, familiar and likable patterns remain. On 'Fever', their ability to trip outcomes to the fore, again, with subtle production tools being applied alongside sumptuous guitar licks.
Their previous work often witnessed an open-ended nature. Expertly deploying hooks on the guitar and taking them for an aimless meander. It's where their true beauty lay. On the title track, however, they have gone against this grain. 'Stars Are The Light' is a complete piece of pop art as you can imagine. It strays into the everyday mindset of longing to escape rather than being otherworldly.
Former single 'Lost Heads' also walks this line. Johnson's guitars are still at play, and after a residency in Salford this year, picked up influences from the psyche work of James on 'Bitch' and 'Girl at the End of the World'.
The hypnotic elements of Primal Scream's 'Autobahn' loom, but, 'Lost Heads' is far dreamier and acid-tinged. Its ethereal qualities are that blissful moment on a night out; the headliner has blown you away and now you floating in space.
'Stars Are The Light' is a fine re-imagination of what Moon Duo can be. If anything, they have been to tentative. There is definitely a sense there is more in the tank. That said, not many can switch up their DNA as effectively as these seven albums in.