Moon Letters - 2025 - This Dark Earth

(43:07; Moon Letters)

Seattle-based psychedelic progressive quintet Moon Letters are back with their third album and have maintained the same line-up of John Allday (keyboards, vocals, trumpet), Mike Murphy (bass, vocals), Kelly Mynes (drums, percussion), Michael Trew (lead vocals, flute, congas) and Dave Webb (guitars, percussion). I thoroughly enjoyed their second album, ‘Thanks You From The Future’, but must admit this one does not hit me as strongly and I am not really sure why. They are very much a regressive band as opposed to progressive in that they are firmly rooted in the late Sixties/early Seventies period with some deliciously dated wonderful old school keyboard sounds, and there are not many keyboard players who can switch to a trumpet midway through a run, for which Allday should be applauded.

I mentioned Gentle Giant in my review of their last album, but that influence is far more subdued this time around, apart from the harmony vocals, and there are times when this feels like a traditional symphonic prog band who has been paying very close attention indeed to late period Beatles with some early Zappa thrown in for good measure. It is when they are at their most chaotic, such as on “Island of Magic Mirrors” that they are at their best, as it is when they push the envelope that their true characters shine through. I am a fan of the album length though, as yet again they have ensured this would fit easily onto one vinyl album, or one side of a TDK D90, and that in itself needs to be commended as there is just no need to release lengthy albums if they contain filler. There is no filler here, but this is not nearly as immediate as their last one, although I am sure if I could spend more time getting to know this then I would appreciate it more. As it stands, this is an interesting release as opposed to essential, although they are definitely worth exploring. 

Kev Rowland, May 2026

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