“If you spin away, just let me know”
Last year I listened to Andrew Chalkin’s 1994 book A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts. Aside from the scary overtones of American nationalism, it’s a thoroughly researched book that gives accurate insight on the amount of work it took to put a man on the moon just because JFK said they would. Most striking were the parts that capture the absolute isolation and loneliness of space, where you can’t even lie down to cry about missing your wife. Worth the free Audible credit, like. However, if you want the same effect and a lot less rocket science jargon and dated Yankee waffle, listen to Moon Landing’s breakout single The Room is Spinning instead!
In space no one can hear you weep; that’s the vibe I’m getting from 22 year old Jake McCrea’s new Moon Landing project. Recorded in Half Bap studios, the sonic space created really feels like we’re traversing the void of the stars – without being cheesy or contrived – it’s an honest emotional journey that immerses the listener in the vulnerable state of astronaut blues. High up on his guitar Moon Landing plucks symphonious notes that propel the track to the heights of storied space-faring efforts such as Spiritualized’s Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space and The Avalanches’ last record. Electronic pulses float by like debris, there’s an expert sense of distance in the mix that is a demonstration of Half Bap and Moon Landing really knowing what they want from the production, hats off/space suit helmets off to them for that.
The lyrics are a standard lament of a significant other uniquely refracted through a clean telescope lens that, while downcast, have a beautiful optimistic tilt, “If the colours blur/Don’t turn away, don’t turn back”. I think a fitting comparison would be the similarly titled “Spinning Away” by Brian Eno and John Cale, which shares a sense of awe at the spectrum of human feeling, finds a quiet peace in our insignificance, and yes, sounds simply class.
A wonderful first single all over. Moon Landing is shooting for the stars and this initial launch was a roaring success.
