Artist: Moon.74
Title: Newborn
Genre: Rock / Pop / Electro
Release Date: 1st October 2010
Label: Echozone
Album Review
‘Newborn’, a debut album by Dominic Hein aka MOON.74, could really be called his sole brain-child - he created it all - from song writing, lyrics, vocals to recording of various instruments to design and presentation of it. A zesty undertaking and for a self-taught artist it’s a Herculean task accomplished to a respectable degree. It comes as no surprise that Hein / MOON.74 has started as a DEPECHE MODE fan; the album at the beginning reminds me of DM’s early sound with more up-to-date synthesisers, but luckily it comes to its own territory soon enough, though it will still carry some reminiscences during its length. What is unfortunate is that Hein’s voice comes off as too monotonous and its expressiveness is sadly limited. The lyrics are post-romantic, straightforward; there is a sense of sincerity.
‘We are’ is the best song here, danceable, lively and the feel of nostalgia is beautifully imbued into it, Hein’s voice doesn’t encounter too many problems and gets out of its monotonic cage even if on a short leash. ‘Moonlanding’ with distorted sound and sampler use (at the beginning), adds with its hardness and energy to diversify the album from its other, softer, melancholy / nostalgic, neo-romantic and melodically orientated tracks. ‘Newborn’ is a touching song with starry-eyed optimism thrown in with a healthy measure, the layers of music are richer here, and the guitar strumming sound and atmospheric feel at the beginning are wonderful, the chorus is strong, the ending didn’t match up to it though - mainly vocally.
I would have liked the atmospheric aspect to be more layered throughout, Hein’s voice needs to be more stimulating, emphatic and mobile for the music he creates, but let’s wait; this is just this solo artist’s debut and good enough to give it a listen or two.
Tracklist
01. Gun (4.30)
02. The Day You Disappear (4.08)
03. It’s Hurting Me (6.05)
04. Strange Convention (5.01)
05. We Are (3.49)
06. Into My Arms (4.54)
07. Dirty Mind (4.09)
08. Oblivion (5.23)
09. Stalking Horse (3.44)
10. Moonlanding (4.51)
11. Breath (4.26)
12. Newborn (5.37)
13. Lost (4.09)
Line-up
Dominic Hein – vocals and instrumentation
Website:
http://www.moon74.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/moon74music
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 5
Sound: 5
Total: 5 / 10
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