"around the corner / everyone / walk out and whispered..."
The artful psychedelic indietronic disco fevered slam dance of "Coyote", by Seattle bred / Los Angeles based psych rockers Moon Darling, feels dangerously high and on the edge like skateboarding down Donner Pass without a helmet, or pads or even gloves. I am loving the percussive runaway drumming with sticks on the rim keeping feverish time, Eliza Karpel's vital thumping bass, the dirtiest of synth pulsations, the cleaner synth melody orchestrations, the subtle palm muted guitar rhythms and lead punctuations and Michael Julian's layered vocal falsettos that feel hyper pop / art rock / disco funk all at the very same time. Moon Darling cultivate such a cross generational / multi-genre'd sound that if feels somewhat nostalgic but, oddly enough, futuristic too, maybe an aesthetic that could be called retro futurism is that is a thing, if that makes any sense.
By the way, the musical break takes me away every time.
LINER NOTES (excerpted / bracketed):
[Los Angeles, CA (July 14, 2026) – L.A. duo Moon Darling share their latest single “Coyote” from their forthcoming LP, Hearts To Blame, due September 25. Inspired by the boundless sense of adventure that comes with the open road, “Coyote” blends shimmering psych-pop textures with carefree spirit. The music video features vocalist and guitarist Michael Julian and bassist Eliza Karpel within a psych-pop dreamscape and seen through a coyote’s mouth.
Expansive yet deeply melodic at its core, Hearts To Blame weaves together kaleidoscopic pop-psych arrangements, driving disco rhythms, and immersive sonic experimentation. Moving fluidly between dreamlike, hypnotic groove-driven tracks and cinematic psychedelic pop, the album embraces versatility without sacrificing cohesion or emotional resonance. The album reflects a band unafraid to evolve, pairing vintage influences with modern production and an adventurous sense of songwriting. "The title Hearts To Blame really is as literal as it sounds,” says the band. “It's about making choices and guiding yourself through life by the feeling you have in your heart, whether those are good choices or bad."]
From the Los Angeles duo's upcoming sophomore full length "Hearts To Blame", due out September 25, 2026.
[Los Angeles, CA (July 14, 2026) – L.A. duo Moon Darling share their latest single “Coyote” from their forthcoming LP, Hearts To Blame, due September 25. Inspired by the boundless sense of adventure that comes with the open road, “Coyote” blends shimmering psych-pop textures with carefree spirit. The music video features vocalist and guitarist Michael Julian and bassist Eliza Karpel within a psych-pop dreamscape and seen through a coyote’s mouth.
Expansive yet deeply melodic at its core, Hearts To Blame weaves together kaleidoscopic pop-psych arrangements, driving disco rhythms, and immersive sonic experimentation. Moving fluidly between dreamlike, hypnotic groove-driven tracks and cinematic psychedelic pop, the album embraces versatility without sacrificing cohesion or emotional resonance. The album reflects a band unafraid to evolve, pairing vintage influences with modern production and an adventurous sense of songwriting. "The title Hearts To Blame really is as literal as it sounds,” says the band. “It's about making choices and guiding yourself through life by the feeling you have in your heart, whether those are good choices or bad."]
The Official Video for "Coyote" has a lot to chew on, savagely, weirdly with tongue planted firmly in cheek (don't bite it though and draw blood).
-Robb Donker Curtius
-Robb Donker Curtius
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ABOUT
There are those bands who recall an older time and place, a moment in history when music was more about saying something of substance than it was about counting the number of streams. Seattle psych rockers Moon Darling cling to this ideology, creating a bluesy sound that harkens back to that classic ’70s rock howl. By channeling the influence of bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple (with a little bit of weirdness thrown in for good measure), the band builds a kaleidoscopic version of those artists that remains relevant and reverent among all the gaudy imitations littering the modern musical landscape.
ABOUT
There are those bands who recall an older time and place, a moment in history when music was more about saying something of substance than it was about counting the number of streams. Seattle psych rockers Moon Darling cling to this ideology, creating a bluesy sound that harkens back to that classic ’70s rock howl. By channeling the influence of bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple (with a little bit of weirdness thrown in for good measure), the band builds a kaleidoscopic version of those artists that remains relevant and reverent among all the gaudy imitations littering the modern musical landscape.
"Coyote" (Official Video), alt rock, Los Angeles psychedelic rock duo, Michael Julian & Eliza Karpel, Moon Darling, new album "Welcome Back", progressive garage rock, indietronica,
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