Moon Letters: This Dark Earth (2025)

Like I said, I came to Moon Letters not via their debut, but from their most recent album. This Dark Earth is album #3 (their sophomore effort Thank You From The Future remains unheard…at least until the vinyl arrives), and it doubles down on the instrumental wizardry and lush vocal lines. But it also moves away from the analog, 70s vintage sounds for something more modern, taking influences from 80s rock and metal to hone in on and craft their own identity. The growth over six years is evident, with disparate sections of songs coalescing better as the songwriting gets more concise. Nothing is lost, much is gained, and it continues to surprise me with each listen.

ChrisNovember 14, 2025Leave a comment

Moon Letters: Until They Feel The Sun (2019)

When it comes debuts, I like to come in with a different set of expectations, especially if I’m coming to it after already heard later releases. Such is the case with Moon Letters, a Seattle, WA band whose debut Until They Feel The Sun wears its influences so clearly on its sleeve there are moments when I chuckle. But it’s exuberant, and to my ears comes not from calculation but from the rush of joy that comes from making something that speaks to that inner voice, the one that prompted the picking up of an instrument in the first place.

ChrisNovember 12, 20251 Comment

Vinyl

Go Kurosawa: soft shakes (2025)

I love it when I discover something with tendrils. As per usual, it started with Erik, who introduced me to the soft, joyous psychedelic haze of Kikagaku Moyo. Through them, the tendril reached to the label, Guruguru Brain, and I discovered an entire world of interesting, complex yet utterly entrancing sounds from the likes of LAIR and Minami Deutsch, among others. But still more tendrils led on, and I discovered the label was co-founded and run by Go Kurosawa, who – to circle back to the beginning – was the drummer and vocalist for Kikagaku Moyo. A few years after the band’s end, he returns with soft shakes, his solo debut. It’s a change in sound that nonetheless is imbued with everything that enchanted me about Kikagaku Moyo’s music.

ChrisNovember 11, 2025Leave a comment

Fields: Feeling Free (The Complete Recordings 1971-1973)

Another shiny object found in the detritus of the 70s: Fields, a trio led by keyboardist Graham Field that rolled deep in the waters of symphonic, progressive, and psychedelic rock. I was only made aware of them a month ago, and I don’t think I’m alone; how else to explain the existence of Feeling Free (The Complete Recordings 1971-1973) which – accurate to its title – collects the band’s entire brief output over two discs? There’s an interesting, “What if early ELP with pop hooks?” vibe to the music that works well, and while there’s nothing earth shattering to be found, it’s a solid compilation I’m glad to fold into my current rotation of classic prog and rock.

ChrisNovember 10, 2025Leave a comment

Vinyl

The 9C Files: Howling Giant’s Crucible & Ruin

Expectation is such a heavy thing when it comes to your favorite bands. You want to support them, to give them room to stretch and create and follow their personal muse (muses? It’s early in the morning) wherever it will take them. But you know deep down there’s a small kernel of…let’s call it yearning…for them to do exactly what YOU want. I can’t help it, you can’t help it, best to just acknowledge the bias and move on. Especially when said favorite band knocks it out of the park by doing both, as Howling Giant have done with their third full-length Crucible & Ruin. An expanded lineup brings new complexities into their prog/psych/stoner rock assault, and the songwriting gets even sharper, aided by a brighter, soaring production that highlights the best aspects of the band.

ChrisNovember 9, 2025Leave a comment

Playlists

(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 75: FLAC Attack!

I’m starting to get back into the groove. I’ve got stacks of CDs and vinyl records waiting to be spun and reviewed, we’re going to start formally crossing over with Nine Circles, featuring the metal reviews I write over there over here (hence the new menu option – will probably load them up on Sundays) and to top it all off I snagged a sweet DAP (Digital Audio Player) from FIIO, popped a 1TB microSD card in it and started loading my Bandcamp collection in FLAC format to it. Got about 4,000 tracks in it so far, and so I grabbed my headphones, hit the Randomizer, and this is what came out:

ChrisNovember 8, 2025November 8, 2025Leave a comment

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Month: November 2025