Moon Letters - 2022 - Thank You From the Future

(41:02; Moon Letters)

Track list:
1. Sudden Sun 4:19
2. The Hrossa 6:18
3. Mother River 4:32
4. Isolation and Foreboding 6:33
5. Child of Tomorrow 5:27
6. Fate of the Alacorn 7:06
7. Yesterday Is Gone 6:47

Line-up:
Kelly Mynes - drums, percussion
Mike Murphy - bass, vocals, percussion
John Allday - piano, organ, synthesizers, orchestration, vocals
Dave Webb - guitars
Michael Trew - vocals, flute, guitars, percussion


Prolusion.
US band Moon Letters started out back in 2016, consisting of members that all had past experiences with other band constellations under their belt. Their debut album "Until They Feel the Sun" from 2019 was given a favorable reception and started to build the band's stature in the progressive rock world. Now in 2022 Moon Letters are back with their second studio album "Thank You From the Future".

Analysis.
Moon Letters as a band can probably be described and defined in a few different manners, but the most important aspect of what this band is all about can be summarized as progressive rock. This is a band that bounce around the field a bit, but all the outer borders of the field are very much defined as progressive rock.

This is an album that mix and blend contrasting features in an interesting manner. On one hand we have melodic, inviting and accessible progressive rock, on the other hand we have challenging and quirky features with a more narrow presumed audience reach. And while vintage keyboards are given a liberal amount of space and room, this isn't a band that are unwilling to incorporate sounds and moods that have a bit more of a contemporary touch either.

That being said, I do suspect the liberal array of vintage sounds that is one characteristic trait of this production will be something of a draw for those who enjoy classic era progressive rock. And the songs here come with plenty of direct and presumed associations too: Genesis and Caravan for sure, Gentle Giant too, and I presume pointers towards the likes of early King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator can be uncovered too. The symphonic aspects and the heavy prog aspects are probably the most defined features throughout, but the dark and the quirky details are very much in place too. Including a few pastoral details and a subtle nod or two in the direction of the fusion flavored parts of progressive rock.

In addition to all of those presumed classic era progressive rock references, Kansas and Rush are two more bands I feel the need to name-drop here. The majesty and the drama the former can have at times is the reason for Kansas to be mentioned, while the refined and catchy material the latter made in the first half of the 1980's the reason for the inclusion of Rush to the associations department.

"Thank You from the Future" is obviously a production that comes with many more sounds and details than merely the ones that can be referenced directly and indirectly towards other bands, and obviously they do not sound exactly like any of them either. But the use of name-dropping is an easy and understandable manner to describe the width, scope and reach of a band, and when the band in question often seems to have a defined vintage orientation too it seems natural to play the association game more broadly here, as I rather suspect that many of those who love a majority of the bands referenced will find this album to be a rather charming experience too.

Conclusion.
Moon Letters as of 2022 strikes me as a fun, playful and suitably challenging band, with liberal amounts of easygoing as well as quirky vintage features with a focus on the heavy and the symphonic aspects of progressive rock, but also with more contemporary and accessible touches appearing here and there emphasizing the playful nature of the band as well as the planned or accidental use of smaller and more broad contrasting features. A band and an album that should appeal to a broad subset of progressive rock fans I suspect, but with those fond of heavy progressive rock and symphonic progressive rock the ones that probably should take note of this production before others.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, October 2022

Links:
https://www.moonletters.com/