M.O.O.N. – Clinically Blas – LP Vinyl

Quietly building an enthusiastic following with a steady stream of EPs and singles, M.O.O.N.’s debut full-length ‘Clinically Blas’ creatively navigates a wide range of emotive synthesizer music deviating from dance-geared tropes in favor of freer arrangements and lush instrumentation. While the rhythms are rooted in variants of house, boogie, and synth-pop ‘Clinically Blas’ never tips it’s hand stylistically in any particular direction resulting in a playful balance of retro sounds and futuristic ideas highlighting a deft melodic sensibility.

Separated by interludes, ‘Clinically Blas’ is split into three sections that explore variations on similar themes and shared sounds recording live percussion, guitar, piano, and bass in addition to software instruments and classic analog synth gear. The album’s beatless opener “Pilot” signals departure with a vocal loop rendered aquatic over bright, ringing piano chords – sounds which make appearances again on the album’s arpeggiating centerpiece “Alicia” and on the closer “Finale”. The smooth “Time” unwinds with unexpected jazzy chords and expressive treated trumpet lifting it skyward. There are plenty of moments made for movement with the ecstatic drumwork and stratospheric pads of “Jon F”, the bouncing 303 of “Leaning In”, or the funky slo-mo arpeggiated disco roll of “Medium Cool”. The sequencing ties together ‘Clinically Blas’ into a compelling journey, ebbing and flowing in energy, timbre, and tempo much like a thoughtful, continuous DJ mix.