THIS DARK EARTH

This week I'll be reviewing the third and latest a;bum by Seattle based proggers, Moon Letters, titled "This Dark Earth". The band was formed by members of various other Seattle area prog Bands in 2019, and they released their first album that same year, called " Until They Feel the Sun". They followed it up in 2022 with "Thank You from the Future". The band is made up of the following members:

- John Allday / keyboards, vocals, trumpet - Mike Murphy / bass, vocals - Kelly Mynes / drums, percussion - Michael Trew / lead vocals, flute, congas - Dave Webb / guitars, percussion

I have heard a few songs frome their first two albums that I liked, but I have heard none of this one, so as usual, this is a cold listen.

Disclosure: This review was requested by Anne-Claire of Bad Dog promotions, which I have had a loose association with since March 2025, but as always, I "call it like I hear it" and receive no compensation for the review.

Lets's get listening!

Track 1 - Energy of the Heart

We begin with a snare fill that brings the band in on a moderate tempo. But at around 35 seconds in the temp increases dramatically. With an intricate run from the musicians. The vocals join at around the one minute mark, with 2 parts. The rhythm guitar plays a bit of Randy Rhoads style at times. It's heavy bit not really metal. At around 2:40, there is a funky bass groove from Mike Murphy, and then some really cool analog synth sounds that come straight from the disco era. The band is super tightr in that instrumental section. The vocals resume afterwards As per the title, this is a very high energy tune! At 3:30 the tempo slows down and there is a trippy guitar break leading to a terrific vocal harmony section. The guitar and then the synths take the spotlight next. This leads us to a peaceful ending. Fun opening track with a quirky, unique vibe.

Track 2 - Silver Dream

This begins with the band playing tightly together on a riff reminiscent of the Flower Kings. We go into a 6-8 vibe, but it feels like we occasionally skip a beat. At 1:20 it goes into a few measures of odd meter. This feels a bit like an early rock ballad but through a kaleidoscope. At a little after 3 minutes Dave Webb gives us some rapid right hand tapping. Following that, only Michael Trew's vocals and John Allday's piano continue. A freaky keyboard riff takes us to a heavier section with almost Black Sabbath vibes. The tempo double times, then we have a trumpet solo! Up next the guitar and keys trade licks. This is a fun track with many twists and turns. I believe we have a mellotron choir are we reach the ending accompanying the guitar. Cool track!

Track 3 - Island of Magic Mirrors

The vocals on this one kick right off with the band at a rapid tempo. Great harmonies over odd meter changes. At around 1 minute the tempo slows down for some spacy guitar. A quirky bass riff brings the tempo back up. I keep using the word quirky, as I can't think of a better word to describe what I am hearing, but I mean it as a complement! We have a fun wah-wah solo at around 2 minutes, with lots of interesting sounds accompnying. Murphy and Mynes are a tight rhythm section holding all of the musical mayhem together. This one gives me some Zappa vibes at times! I love the line "My wings are melting as I see your face!" Man, I don't know what kind of synths Allday uses, but they sound straight out of the 70s! (again, a complement.) The closing riffs ended the song on an exciting note! Loving this album so far.

Track 4 - Lonely Moon

This is a very short track at 2:10. We have acoustic guitar for the first time, accompanied by the bass. Some keys follow soon after. This appears to be a briefe acoustic interlude. There are significant contributions from the bass, though. Nice peaceful track!

Track 5 - In the Catacombs

Harmony vocals and lead guitar kick-off the festivities here. The guitar riff follows with an almost hair metal groove. There are lots of rhythmic twists and turns, then?DOUBLETIME! There is a lot of complex instrumental interplay going on here. Rapid-fire rund pop in between vocal phrases. There is a bit of 7-8 as we cross the 2-minute mark. After it drops to nearly nothing, Trew has a mighty scream over some extremely precision playing. This may only be a 4 and a half minute song, but damn, too many shifts to describe here. WOW! Very impressive.

Track 6 - Dawn of the Winterbird

And here we have the 17:18 closing epic. This one begins with a somewhat tropical groove, Each of the opening verses ends with sustained vocal harmonies while the beat is kind of "suspended". After 2 verses, we go into 5-4 then 7-8. The 7-8 is a modified Bolero beat to my ears. The beat straightens out to 4-4 at around 3:15. Next there is a mellow section with keys accompanying the vocals (possibly mellotron). After a pause of a few seconds, a new section begins with clean guitar in an almost "Little Wing" feel at first, then the rhythm section kiosks in. Just before 6 minutes, the guitars get heavier sounding, and we get a half-time feel. This has a nice groove here at around 6:30. The intensity kicks up by the 8 minute mark. Nice guitar fills here. At around 8:50 the sound gets much bigger. Then about 9:25 there is another pause and the music gets more mellow. We start getting heavier again after the 10 minute point. The vocals return at 11 minutes with a mellow-phasey guitar part accompanying. Nice piano at 12 minutes. Then we rock out by 12:30. Cool instrumental interplay around 13:30. Nice long, sustained vocal note around 14:35. I believe we are building toward a big finish at around 15:50. Yep, intensity building around 16:30, then it eases off around 17:00 as we round out this nice epic. Well done!

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

A very strong album from Moon Letters, indeed. I need to check out the first two albums more thoroughly. They have a lot of eclectic influences. These's some psychedelia, some "golden-era" classic prog, some 70s cheese (in a fun way), and even 80's hair-metal in some of Dave Webb's guitar stylings. They bring it all together into their own unique style. Allof the musicians and vocalists are strong. I truly enjoyed that. Not quite instant classic level, but very good; a fun listen. I'll give it a 4.25 out of 5 stars. I have a feeling Moon Letters will continue grow and evolve as a band!

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Thanks! Prog On!

clicked 4, but a little better at 4.25

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