Power duo Moon & Aries is the combined forces of German composer and producer Tom Aries and Canadian writer and vocalist Jordana Moon. Together they integrate a collection of retro and modern elements into their signature genre they’ve dubbed “synth pop opera“. Moon & Aries is a new project, the collaboration beginning in March of 2021, but in the time since they’ve released a total of nine singles as well as their debut album. The eight-track project The Arrival is a stellar showcase of the strengths of this up-and-coming group, showing definitive cohesivity and both production and writing talent despite the pair never having worked together in person and orchestrating this entire release online.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Starting off with a compelling title track, The Arrival is a bold, spacey fusion of sounds that leans firmly into the duo’s decidedly galactic direction. Already racking up over 70,000 streams on Spotify alone, this track is futuristic and ethereal, Jordana’s vocals offering a saccharine contrast to the deeply textured instrumentation.
The opening softness of the following track Cold serves as a brief reprieve from the waves of sound, but this track quickly throws us back into the fray. A gentleness in the vocals works perfectly against synths with an icy, metallic bounce, evoking a sense of a crystalline delicateness. The array of backing synths and percussion elements offer an alternate perspective, bringing strong, rich bass tones into the mix, an interesting and successful juxtaposition.
Another stand-out on this project is Toxic City. Swelling, dynamic synths lead us boldly into a track full of melancholy and longing. Jordana’s vocals are stellar across this album, but there’s a definite note of pure emotion and feeling on display in this track, bringing the likes of an electronic Evanescence to mind. This kind of raw display of talent and feeling lends even more authenticity to the duo’s work.
We also love Lost in Separate Worlds for its driving, drama pop-tinged rhythm and driving energy, and Shadow for creating a tech-heavy soundscape with clear notes of ’80s influence and operatic elements.
OUR FAVORITE TRACK…
Towards the end of the album, we find the stellar track Sneak Preview. An alluring intro throws the listener headfirst into a pulsing, enchanting array of electronic sounds. Jordana’s vocals are soaring and powerful, Tom’s arrangement is layered and complex, the melodies are memorable and the performance is top-level – it’s an excellent summation of all of the highlights this talented twosome is bringing to the table.
IN CONCLUSION…
Many bands label themselves with a unique genre to stand out, but few actually work to create newness and originality within their label, defying expectations and displaying endless amounts of creativity and innovation. The work of Moon & Aries on The Arrival is exactly that. This is imaginative, captivating music in the electronic space that blends a welcome amount of familiarity with the unexpected, drawing listeners in and holding them there through the last measure. Stream this stellar album and experience it for yourself below.
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BELOW: Listen to The Arrival and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Moon & Aries by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
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