Lo Moon – review 7th November 2023 @the Lexington North London.
Andy McNab
Lo Moon is a band that’s been on our radar for a few years now; when the release of their self-titled debut album appeared in 2018, the critics were making positive vibes about this group. Fast forward to 2022, and A Modern Life is released, and again, the quality of arrangement and all-round sound is there for all to hear. Ranking high in the Electronic Café albums of the year in 2022 (no two, actually).
I have been fortunate enough to have seen Lo Moon several times – last year at Kings Cross venue Lafyette, they totally blew me and the other 600 + crowd away that night. Mark and I also saw them supporting Metric at the Roundhouse, sadly they only had a 30-minute slot, and it was over all too soon, but they clearly won a ton of new fans that night, judging from the reception they got. I then happened to be in Manchester a week before this gig at the Deaf Institute venue and brought some friends along who are now true Lo Moon evangelists; I’ll explain how this happens a little later.
The band is made up of four unique and talented individuals, Sterling Laws on drums, Crisanta Baker on Bass and synths, and Sam Stewart on guitar and synths, all joined by Matt Lowell – lead vocalist, guitars and keys. They all hail from parts of the US and the UK but are based in LA.
Now to the gig, my Electronic Café brother Mark and Blitzed publisher Tom Saunders were in the audience and the band kicked off with the track Raincoats from the Modern Love album. The song starts with atmospheric synths and vocals not much else, but then with a voice like Mr Lowell’s, it’s way more than enough to know we are all in for a sonic treat. As the track unfolds, Sterling brings in a soft, almost krautrock beat; then the track builds to a point where a ton of reverse gate hits like a hurricane and stays that powerful but still stunningly melodic to its very end, and the crowd goes crazy! I look at Mark and Tom and they are smiling and looking stunned at how good these guys really are.
Stand-out tracks throughout the night are Dream never dies, news single Evidence, this is it, Real Love, Expectations, ahh sod it; every song is a highlight!
And that’s the thing: Lo Moon is one of those rare bands that just sound amazing with every track they make! Everyone I have introduced this band to say the same thing “Some of their songs make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end”. When you see them live, it’s with every track!
Their songcraft and sound are just the best in class in all areas. Matt’s voice has an uncanny resemblance to former Talk Talk singer Mark Hollis, and that’s ok with me because I miss Mark Hollis. Their overall sound has so many influences, such as Blue Nile, Peter Gabriel, Talk Talk, you get the picture. But these guys, make no mistake, are making their own imprint.
The other great thing is that at every Lo Moon gig so far, the band has come out of the stage door and met the crowd after the show. Mark and I interviewed Matt last year for an episode of the Electronic Café, and like the rest of the band, they are just really cool, lovely people.
So, we had a fantastic night. These guys are building a fanbase fast, and the next album is due around next April, I for one can’t wait for its release. It was great just watching an incredible band that I will never tire of seeing or hearing. Watching Tom, Mark, and everyone else in the room having eargasms was just brilliant. Thank you, Lo Moon, you’re a very special band.
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