The pairing of San Francisco-based guitarist Ripley Johnson (Wooden Shjips) and keyboardist Sanae Yamada resulted in hard psychedelic rock riffs and saturated guitars when the form Moon Duo in 2009. While their debut full-length LP, Mazes, has the feel of modern psych-rock, albeit with a drum machine, it doesn’t take long for the band to create their own unique sound. Their sophomore release, Circles, contains the sound that fans of band have come to associate with Moon Duo. Fuzzed out guitars playing over repetitive rhythms explore the darker side of psychedelia. Yet, on on their seventh album, Stars Are the Light, the duo’s sound has experienced a full makeover.
From the opening lines on the first track, “Flying” it is immediately obvious that Moon Duo have taken their sound in a new direction. The bossanova beats and funky grooves have more in common with Os Mutantes and Caetano Veloso than previous associated acts like Suicide and Spaceman 3. On the titular track, Yamada takes the foreground with ethereal vocals and shimmering keyboard effects while Johnson lends languid guitar riffs and background vocals.
Slow disco/reggae beats take over on “Fall (In Your Love)” while Yamada and Johnson softly harmonize while Johnsons guitar snakes in-and-out below the syncopated keyboard riffs. “Eye 2 Eye” starts out with high paced, fuzzed out guitar riffs reminiscent of past releases and sounding a bit out of place on a record full of slower but a welcome sound for anyone missing the familiar sounds of past Moon Duo records.
While Stars Are the Light is completely different than other Moon Duo albums, it is by no means a disappointment. It is a very groovy record, full of disco and funk beats. It was also brought to life with the help of Sonic Boom, a former member of Spaceman 3, who has also worked with Beach House. Any fan of Moon Duo or psych-rock will not be let down by Stars Are the Light.
Photo credit: Brett Johnson
