"that simple movement always heals me"
Slow Drive by dream indie pop duo Moon Panda (from their current EP "Make Well") feels like one of those mornings that are far and few in between during these tumultuous times. You may remember those mornings, when you wake up and float half asleep for moments, stretching in bed still not knowing what is real and what is not, what is a dream and what are the hard edges of life. It is good to feel that again, instead of a barrage of stories lacking... lacking in hope and the loveliness of life that is really still there if you look.
Moon Panda is Californian songwriter/bassist Maddy Myers and Danish guitarist Gustav Moltke and 2020 has them coming out... as a married couple. While they first tried to make their marriage and their music two separate things, it became apparent within "Make Well" that the exploration of who they are together (as well as apart) has to, must inform their art.
"All in all it’s about healing, both together and by ourselves. It’s been the toughest year yet. But we’ve been together, and that’s something", says Myers.
I suppose a world in the throes of a pandemic, revolution and evolution at an alarming rate does make one get to the heart of the matter, doesn't it?
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
spotify
deezer
soundcloud
'Make Well' is the new EP from indie dream-pop duo Moon Panda, released on the aptly named Fierce Panda Records, of course two pandas are always better one. It's a hazy daydream of escapism featuring the singles 'Rick F***in Dalton' and 'Slow Drive' as well as new radio track 'Sirens'.
For Moon Panda (Californian songwriter/bassist Maddy Myers and Danish guitarist Gustav Moltke), 2020 is a year when honesty has become inescapable. At first their instinct had been to try and separate their relationship from their music, but now the pair are being open about the inextricable link between their marriage and their work as Moon Panda. The 'MAKE WELL' EP sees them reflect on where they are, what has happened along the way, and what needs to happen before they can look towards the future.
"All in all it’s about healing, both together and by ourselves. It’s been the toughest year yet. But we’ve been together, and that’s something", says Myers.
First single from it, 'Rick F***in Dalton', was written after viewing the latest Tarantino film 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' (watch the Frank Sidebottom influenced video here), while the bands following single 'Slow Drive' provides a more personal narrative, Myers explains:
"I started this song during one of the 3-4 month stints when Gustav and I were stuck apart from each other in our home countries. The time difference made it tough to connect and I found myself having trouble sleeping and getting a little anxious. I wrote the bass and lyrics to this song as a way to calm myself down and find some inner peace. When we were together again we turned it into a full song together. I still feel a sense of inner peace every time we play it."
To Moon Panda, these difficulties felt mirrored by some of the wider issues in the world at the moment, "breaking into pieces and putting up walls.Tearing apart people that should be able to be together."
The new track to hit the radio airwaves is 'Sirens', a hazy bass driven track that plods the listener through a familiar journey of trying to escape the stressful city sounds for more peaceful surroundings, Myers hazy vocals are scattered around distorted guitars yearning for nature 'I try to listen for the leaves rustling in the wind, but all I hear is sirens'.
Having toured throughout the UK and Denmark, including notable shows supporting the Japanese House, Slow Club and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, the Moon Panda live show is a supple, sensuous delight which mesmerises the audience into their hazy dream. Moon Panda were due to play SXSW 2020 in Austin, Texas and tour Europe this summer including support slots with New Zealand's Purple Pilgrims before COVID-19 cancelled all tour plans for the year, these dates including SXSW will be rescheduled and announced when it's safe to do so. All going well the bands 2021 pencilled tour dates in UK, North America, Europe and Asia will go ahead and be announced soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment