year/2019
country/UK
label/
TRU THOUGHTS (TRULP383)
極上のメロウネスとハーモニーはさらなるスウィート・スポットへと到達。
LAジャズ〜ネオ・ソウル屈指の人気バンド=MOONCHILDムーンチャイルド最新アルバム発売決定。
2018年にはJAZZ FMの“Soul Act of the Year”を獲得し、ジ・インターネットやカマシ・ワシントンのオープニングアクトも務め、ロバート・グラスパーが結成したバンドR+R=Now の新作に参加するなど、名実ともにLAジャズ〜ネオ・ソウル屈指の人気バンドとなったムーンチャイルドが待望の最新アルバム『Little Ghost』をリリース!!
キックとクラップによるシンプルなビート、ナヴランの赤裸々なヴォーカルとエレピとアコギ、ウクレレのハーモナイズが心地よい先行シングル「Too Much to Ask」、シャッフルされたエレクトロ・ビートにメロウな電子音とため息が出るほど美しいコーラス・ワークが混ざり合う「Get To Know It」、メンバー3人の管楽器ソロがリレーする「Come Over」など、マルチ・プレイヤーである3人が1曲の中でヴァースやリズム、イントロ、アウトロ、ブリッジを持ち寄ったことで、ソウルと現代的ジャズを合わせた独自のスタイルをさらに深めた本作。
全曲メンバーが作詞・作曲、演奏、プロデュース、ミキシングまで行い、コンセプトを表現する歌詞にレイドバックした心地よいメロディーとハーモニー、そして確かなプレイヤビリティに裏付けられた魅惑的な間奏を絡めたバンドの真骨頂が堪能できる出色の1枚となった。
01 Wise Women
02 Too Much to Ask
03 The Other Side
04 Sweet Love
05 Strength
06 Everything I Need
07 Money
08 Nova
09 Get To Know It
10 What You’re Doing
11 Come Over
12 Onto Me
13 Whistling
14 Still Wonder
https://youtu.be/G94JCbgAtRI
https://youtu.be/44p6Zo2nk18
Little Ghost marks the return of LA-based trio Moonchild with their most thoughtfully crafted and complete album to date. Led by first single “Too Much to Ask”, the release sees multi-instrumentalists Amber Navran, Max Bryk, and Andris Mattson channel boundless sonic energy as they explore some of the most personal aspects of what it is to be in love and to believe in who you truly are.
With a unique style of alternative R&B, soul and new-school jazz that has cemented their spot in today’s music scene, Moonchild continue to intertwine lyrical concepts with expansive glistening melodies, harmonies and irresistible interludes. Taking its name from the most emotional of celestial bodies ‘Little Ghost’ follows the widely-praised ‘Voyager’ [2017], ‘Please Rewind’ [2015] and ‘Be Free’ [2012].
Since the release of their critically acclaimed ‘Voyager’ album, Moonchild have toured the album across the world, with headline tours in North America, Asia and Europe as well as opening for The Internet and Kamasi Washington. Whilst travelling, the band wasted no time working on ‘Little Ghost’ as they started putting together beats and production ideas on the road; “Eventually we were able to spend time solely on the album, going to Lake Arrowhead for writing retreats and meeting up at each other’s houses back in LA” says Bryk. Channelling this collaborative spirit, the LP is a continuation of the Moonchild story; “Moonchild has been a project between the three of us where we work to achieve sound we all have in our heads, but can’t articulate into words”, Bryk summarises.
This fondness for experimentation and teamwork follows across the release, particularly through the instrumentation with band members coming together to form harmonies and horn solos; as shown in the funk-fuelled “Come Over” features three separate horn solos back-to-back-to-back from Moonchild with Bryk on Clarinet, Mattson on Flugelhorns and Amber on flutes showcasing their otherworldly musical talent and respect for one another.