Music Review // Lady Neptune – Destroys The Moon
The computer game
influenced, triceratops sporting cover art for this recently released E.P. from
Lady Neptune belies its true nature. Of course, we’re not ones to judge the
music by its cover but one thing’s for sure, if that Triceratops is in need of
some music to charge into a crowd of dinosaurs to, this is it.
In all fairness, though,
the cover art does a disservice to the distinctly not unlistenable music
contained within. The dream pop imbued no wave edge to the music makes it a
listen that needs to be concentrated on. That’s not to say you won’t want to listen,
merely that its beauty needs to be savoured. The sheer dystopia of Theme Song
is embracing and confusing yet not less than essential; ethereal harmonies meld
with a hardcore psych inspired backing and
we’re not quite what it’s the theme song for, but it will have to be to
something pretty darned special.
As Destroys The Moon
continues, that aforementioned psych influence gets less muddier, with more
vocals and a warmer sensation tingling along the spine. I Dunno, the second track
is possibly just as it’s meant to be, with intertwining genres and an irresistible
hook you don’t why you love it but you definitely do.
Slowing the pace right
down, (and adding some classic dream pop ambiance), is Get Out of Here, where
we are invited to do as the title says on a daydream. The opening half is just
right daydream for us, and when the powered up backing returns half way through
it’s a powerful moment that puts the record in perspective. Indeed, it’s here
the experimental edges begin to show more overtly. The loop sketches and
ethereal noodling that close the track are perfectly in place despite the fact
you never thought a record like this could handle them.
But with the closing,
fifteen minute epic Life On Neptune we find the real experimentation. The
opening four tracks are like sketches of sound by comparison to this. Galactic
interference mingles captivatingly with radio voices from the ether in a never
less than ear catching style, and as it all builds into a cacophonous static,
this experiment brings things to a close with sounds that would certainly fit
into the Neptune scene perfectly. If you’ve ever pictured futuristic scenes of
discos ruled by static rather than beats then this is just up your street.
Scary, highly indulgent and never less than on the edge Lady Neptune has
produced an E.P as fascinating as it is brave.
We want more!
(S.Gahan)
