We’re Portugal bound to hear the new An Explosion of Sound EP from rising shoegaze sensation Moon Cowboy. Ricardo Fiel is a shoegaze wizard whose guitar work is nothing short of mesmerizing. With over a decade of experience touring with Portuguese superstar David Fonseca, he has honed his craft and emerged as a solo artist under the moniker Moon Cowboy. Now signed to UK based shoegaze label 1991 Recordings he’s set to release his new EP to the world.
Citing influences as wide and deep as Radiohead, Slowdive and Spacemen 3 it sounds like we’re in for an interesting listen.
The EP opens with the drone driven ‘Your Bright Light’. Very much a song of two halves. The opening half has me remembering the Spectrum album Soul Kiss (The Glide Divine) one of my most beloved records. It’s other worldly and beguiling but all is about to change. Once the drums appear the song blooms into this technicolour dreampop track that just soars. The heavy reverb on everything, including the harmonica just ties it all together in in a psychedelic cloud.
It’s in dreampop territory we remain for the recent single ‘Baby Jane’. We fairly skip along while guitars paint textures and dance around the stunning drum pattern. We are occasionally treated to some really heavy glide guitar, which lifts the song no end. Overall, this song is infinitely catchy and holds your attention well.
We slip into ‘A Moment’ next. All agitated and rippling drums like some lost Radiohead track bring us in. Fiel then paints his velvety vocals over the top before the song swells and emerges as a bombastic reverie in the chorus. It’s that contrast throughout that makes this my EP highlight. The darkness in those quieter sections is brought into sharp relief by the sensory overload of the choruses. It’s both very simple and incredibly complex at the same time.
We close out with the slow burn of ‘In Colors’. The song slowly reveals itself as it introduces drums first, some textures of guitar before the moody and atmospheric piano arrives. The orchestral synth pads lift the song as Fiel’s dusky vocal floats over it all. It’s very much a mood piece and that wistful and longing sound takes this EP to its conclusion.
These four songs are my introduction to Moon Cowboy ands it’s left me wanting more. There’s a real variety of tones and feel throughout that makes this an incredibly absorbing and satisfying listen.
An Explosion of Sound EP will be available digitally everywhere on May 17, 2024 on 1991 Recordings.
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