Moon Rituals debut album pays homage to the classic synth-pop of the ‘80s to create an album that is both whimsical and bittersweet. Moon Rituals kick into each song with a solid drum line and a chilling vocal. Sarah Hardiman’s voice ripples throughout the album, reflecting a sense of emptiness and loss.
Opening song ‘Dressed in Black’ provides chilling but easy listening. The echoing effect of church bells and sultry synths within the song seduces the listener; beautifully painting a sense of pain. ‘Poison Tongue’ similarly captures the seductive tragedy of Moon Rituals’ songs. The repetition of “I push into you” and “pricking my heart” presents the emotional burden and damage that runs deep in Hardiman’s vocals.
The synth-pop at the heart of Moon Rituals presents hope, strength and an escape from the emptiness of the vocals. This is most evident in ‘I Can Hear the Fuck’ which uses synth similarly to ‘80s soft-rock love songs – however the content is far from sentimental and romantic.
With that spirited misery permeating this album, Moon Rituals creates beautiful, bittersweet moments mixed in with classic synth-pop.
7
