Halifax indie group Moonwake have released their latest EP, Phonetic Limbo. With each member of the band bringing their own auditory touch to the project, Moonwake’s free-flowing style results in each track displaying its own dynamic energy.
“Annulment” is the only track where vocalists Sean Clancey and Shileen Gillis don’t flex their voice boxes, instead making way for the rest of the band, as they start us off with a distorted synth buildup, followed by keys, drums and strings, with a sound effect that makes the track appear reversed. As though plucked right out of a storybook, the track’s energy climaxes before leaving us with the same reversed sound we began with.
“Peace Of Mind” belongs in a jazz club specifically for the telekinetic drifter. A laidback groove provided by Mike Andrews’s bass gives a healthy baseline as Scott Nicks sprinkles drips and drops of emotion with his piano. Ben Leathem and his trusty drumset, meanwhile, divides fast and slow pacing flawlessly.
“Time Lapse Sequence” marries peace and emotion by creating a beautifully-layered lull of keys and vocals, with Adam Ritchie adding a bit of whimsy to the track with a few plucky strings.
In what can only be described as Alternative Waltz, “Wallpaper” puts everyone into the spotlight at once as each of their responsibilities on the track get more and more complex as it goes on.
And finally, we have “Without The Sun,” where Braden Nelson’s dreamy synth sounds are the cherry on top of a track where the piano takes on the role of the baseline instrument, and the guitar is given the chance to strum up a few melodies that are love letters to the ear.
“The album means a lot,” said vocalist Sean Clancey. “More content to share around, and more mini projects in between shows and albums. It’s keeping us busy with the band, and more interactive.”
“I’m especially stoked on the string sections. It’s a big step forward having those in the mix, and Scott did such a beautiful job writing the parts—an overall sign of maturity and cohesion within the band.”
Having started as a one-time show, Moonwake has since found joy in bringing their creative collective forward for our listening pleasure, and Phonetic Limbo is one such success.