BLOMLJUD

You have admire an artist who chooses a direction and just leans into it as hard as they can. The effort has the chance to fail miserably, but also achieve some truly novel heights. Moon Safari's BLOMLJUD is divisive for all the right reasons - they turned the sweet up to 11 and decline to show even hints of dark until far into the second disc's worth of material. Some reviewers understandably find this album a bit saccharine. But even when I first purchased this album over ten years ago and was still mostly interested in prog metal, something about Moon Safari's sound here just resonated with me. And after consuming hundreds of albums since then, this is one of the few I come back to - precisely because sometimes I want that uplifting, warm sunshine headspace.

While the overall sound of the album is squarely in the modern prog wheelhouse (take the pastoral side of Genesis and Yes, add in some pop sensibilities and modern production), Moon Safari incorporate traditional choral harmonies as the main feature of their sound in a way I've not heard elsewhere. From the opening a capella "Constant Bloom," the listener is prepared for a college men's quartet recital that seems to include at least one composition major in their ranks. As a choir dad, I've heard a lot in this realm, and I really enjoy it. I've always really been drawn to low male harmonies and that is part of the palette here.

My major knock on the album is its length. 1:45 is a long time to invest in one project, and I wouldn't argue with those who say that BLOMLJUD hasn't quite earned that much. However, for me, just when my interest is starting to wander is when the guitars and darker chords start to be incorporated into the sound (not much mind you). These variations are found squarely in the mid-section of CD 2, especially the epic "Other Half of the Sky." It's enough to carry this listener through to the finish line a happier fellow.

It occurs to me that some bands sound like they are forcing it when they try to get dark or add really heavy elements to what is at its core a happy music. So the fact that Moon Safari stays within the happy realm is quite refreshing. When I want lifted, this is where I go. If I want to be angry, I'll listen to Strapping Young Lad.

5 stars for adding their own sound, sticking to their vision, and forming an emotional connection with this reviewer.

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