SPACE THRASH

After being won over by the 2021 release "A Daydream Dark" by the Indianapolis, Indiana based MOON GOONS, it only made sense to travel back in time three years to check out their debut SPACE TRASH. No lineup changes have occurred so this one is basically a different set of eleven tracks. The band describes itself as garage prog which means the music is based on 1960s psychedelic rock in the same camp as bands like The Sonics, the early years of The Who, The 13th Floor Elevators and an endless number of similarly minded bands. From a contemporary point of view perhaps MOON GOONS most resembles King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at various stages of its ever morphing trajectory. The prog on this debut is negligible compared to the next album though.

One of the most striking differences between SPACE TRASH and the following "A Daydream Dark" is that this album is much more energetic with the guitars often loose wiring into proto-metal territory. This debut is heavy psych whereas the following slowed things down a bit to focus more on the psychedelia although all the same ingredients are present here albeit in different proportions. The vocal harmonies aren't nearly as pronounced on this one either with more emphasis on the male vocals. The female vocals are primarily reserved for the multi-vocal harmony sections. Given the greater loudness of the guitar, bass and drum sections, the atmospheres which are present aren't nearly as pronounced therefore this debut is clearly more garage rock than either psychedelic or prog.

As for the prog aspects, the following album features more subtle twists and turns that qualify MOON GOONS to enter that arena whereas on SPACE TRASH it feels more like a loud grungy example of modern garage rock that happens to incorporate a few tricks and trinkets. The opening "Blackest Magic Mountain" is the most frenzied with loud raucous guitar riffs whizzing by and easily qualifying as hard rock and a form of proto-metal even. Of course this only unfolds after a trippy keyboard oriented intro. Lots of note sliding makes this one tense. The keys simulate a haunted house effect making this a spooky sounding affair. After starting out on steroids the album incrementally tones down the heaviness and becomes more like the second album which focuses on the psychedelia.

Unfortunately this one isn't quite as compelling as "A Daydream Dark." All the elements are in place but the songwriting isn't quite to the same standards and the album seems a bit scattered. For a debut album it's not bad at all and i love the stylistic approach that MOON GOONS has adopted. It's sorta like some kinda of Halloween sounding garage rock but the emphasis on the garage rock is generally too strong on this one and the recipe hasn't been perfected. The next album that has been corrected but this debut is still an interesting slice of modern psychedelic rock for sure, it's just that the following album with bits of prog and a better placing of the ideas is a step up.

3.5 rounded down