A couple of
months ago I've came across MONROE MOON a band hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan formed by Heather Monroe (vocals, Keys), Theo Malkin (guitar) Tim Strothers (drums) and Justin Jackson (bass) and felt compelled to write a few lines about them after listening to all their current discography.
Monroe Moon seems to still be on a phase of building a defined sonic identity that can better consolidate their apparent choice for space rock blended with trip-hop, sophisticated jazz vibes and some incidental ethereal pop although sometimes the idea one gets is that they're pretty much comfortable with their soundscape as it probably reflects a way to avoid them being linked to any specific musical genre.
At first Monroe Moon musical influences seem to be mostly under the spell of both Massive Attack and Portishead but then there's some Cocteau Twins in the background, a little bit of Stereolab and unintentionally until further proof a Wye Oak vibe but there's also some Widowspeak presence and all this helps to give them a contemporary dream-pop contour.
Monroe Moon overall sound is an atmospheric, warm, sensual embrace that wraps oneself in a curtain, not of darkness but dusk and light, a time gone by and a longing for another era, joy and wisdom enhanced by a brilliant rhythm section, spacey, dreamy guitars, inspirational piano and synths and last but, not least the superb jazzy, posh, dreamy voice of Heather Moon which undeniably stands out as MM ace of spades and brings to mind the voices of Jenn Wasner, Molly Hamilton and Corinne Drewery.
With two EP's already released, "When The Seagulls Follow The Trawler (2018) and "Joy" (2020), Monroe Moon emerges as one of the most promising bands to keep an eye on in 2021 with or without the pandemic.