The Moons Life On Earth - Brand New Release (15.3.10)

My musical leanings are very much rooted in the past. As an avid record collector, muso, and musician, I am often so far buried in albums from forty years ago that I regularly miss the rare gems that crop up here and now. Thanks to my mad mate Glenn, modern-day-music-vulture-extraordinaire, I was fortunate enough not to have missed this one. Life On Earth, the debut album from The Moons, was released nationwide just yesterday (15.3.10) and is already, quite rightly, causing a stir. The main man, Andy Crofts, is already a musician of repute; he has toured extensively with Paul Weller playing keyboards. In The Moons he swops keys for the guitar, and steps out of the shadows to the front of the stage to provide lead vocals. Tom Warmsley keeps his seat warm on the old ivories whilst singing harmony, Adam Leeds plays bass, Ben Gordelier the drums, and James Bagshaw plays a second guitar and also sings harmony. It is a tight five-piece set up that shines through brightly on what can only be described as a brilliant new album.

The opening track, Don't Go Changin', is a lively foot-tapper that can't help but remind me of The Fratellis' early stuff; quick, quirky, and enough to get the adrenaline racing. Chinese Whispers is similar in tempo, and has a delightful Lady Madonna-esque piano part anchoring the verses. It could quite easily be a Beatles track from that era - particularly with the glorious harmonies intercepting at the heart of the song. Let It Go really exaggerates the divine 60's sound going on here, and Torn Between Two, the album's sublime highlight, is quite frankly one of the finest singles I've heard in the last decade. Weller's craftsmanship is reflected by the songwriting of his keyboard player Crofts here; it is an absolutely compelling hook with a fantastic production, awesome harmonies, and a magical, swirling organ penetrating the lyric. On first hearing I thought my God, this is as good as For Your Love! I'd actually stick my neck out now and say that it is even better.

Nightmare Day, the following ska-soaked number, is an eccentric, tongue in cheek rant: "Nightmare Day/Well nothing has gone my way!" Promise Not To Tell is a slightly mysterious but buoyant foot-tapper, How Long a more serious and emotive ballad with great chord changes and a wonderful vocal performance by Crofts, and The Ragman an animated story about a character of the same name - a character straight from the ilk of Ogden's NutGone Flake. Everyday Heroes is a fantastic, soulful testament to the working classes; once again reflecting the Weller/Davies et al influence. This is a band that have swallowed the music of their heroes and regurgitated a bloody masterpiece! I'm excited for them even as I write this.

Lost Soul is a groovy lament: "I just lost the girl I used to love to you/You stole her with the things you do." Lyrically it is simple but blindingly effective - a trait that runs throughout the album. Can't we all relate to a line like this? Sure we can. Also listen out for the brilliant bass guitar by Adam Leeds. Wondering (featuring Paul Weller) is an airy, light-hearted piano-led wander through some dreamy, summer afternoon thoughts. A lovely, uplifting song indeed, before the album closes with Last Night On Earth, a rousing ending that boasts great guitar work and, once again, nods to the finest Beatles sound around, particularly the psychedelic freak out at the death of the song.

As far as debut albums are concerned, this is stunning. It really is. Musically mature, at all times gripping, and a killer for inviting the repeat button. All of the influences are prevalent throughout Life On Earth. It certainly does hark back to a golden age of British songwriting; you can hear The Kinks, The Small Faces, and The Yardbirds creeping through. Paul Weller is an obvious inspiration, The Specials too in parts, and most definitely The Beatles in their Rubber Soul/Revolver/Sgt Pepper era. You can also hear the likes of Ocean Colour Scene and The Fratellis in the melodies. Not a bad set of ingredients to make a great album by all accounts, which, already, Life On Earth is threatening to be. If this record was released forty years ago it would be an instant classic. In the age of Cowell and his cronies I fear that this probably wont be the case; it is up to us, the music loving fraternity, to put records like this where they truly belong - the top of the charts. Congratulations Andy and co, bring on the tour and many more years of making music!