Fleet Foxes are, together with Midlake and Mumford & Sons, part of an unexpected success story - of acoustic folk-rock bands conquering the wider pop audience. Surprisingly, despite good sales and reviews, they seem to be inactive at the moment, their last release being 2011's "Helplessness Blues". Drummer Josh Tillman left in 2012 for a solo career under the Father John Misty moniker - he'll be playing Brussels next month, but I'm not sure if I'll be attending. The same year, bassist/ vocalist Christian Wargo founded Poor Moon as a vehicle for all the songs he had written during his sojourn with the Foxes (where singer/ guitarist Robin Peckold seems to hold the songwriting monopoly). He's helped by fellow Fox member Casey Wescott and brothers Ian and Peter Murray - and treads similar ground with that of his other band: warm vocals, intricate harmonies, and thoughtful arrangements featuring acoustic instruments such marimba, harpsichord or zither. Opener "Clouds Below" is among the more understated songs in this collection, with a lonesome acoustic guitar and charmful whistling. The next two songs are more richly arranged with harmonies reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel. "Phantom Light" contains a nice harpsichord solo while "Same Way" features xylophone and some unexpectedly loud drumming near the end. Lead single "Holiday" is a simple bittersweet melody, seemingly about escape from a mundane office job: "On a holiday/ You won't be taking any calls/ You won't be surrounded by/The same four walls" but the mood is melancholic rather than celebratory, as the next verse goes "This will be the last time anyone hears your footsteps in the hall". Watch the video clip for clues as to the song's real meaning. "Waiting For" and "Heaven's Door" remind me of 80's neo-psychedelia like Robyn Hitchcock, the latter with subtle modernizing electro touches. "Bucky Pony" is a sleepy, vaguely Chinese-sounding, ballad while "Pulling Me Down" is relatively upbeat a la Coral or Mumfords. "Come Home" is folky with beautiful vocal harmonies while "Birds" which closes the album is about the parting words of a dying man to his beloved. Far from being sad or depressing, it's sweet and nostalgic in the best pop tradition (i.e. that of The Beatles). Although probably not as good as their parent band, Poor Moon display many of the same characteristics, including their penchant for pretty melodies and intricate arrangements. Their album flows very nicely but lacks any instantly memorable songs.
*** for Clouds Below, Phantom Light, Same Way, Holiday, Waiting For, Heaven's Door, Pulling Me Down, Come Home, Birds
** for Bucky Pony
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