“Second Life (Part I)”
by Luna & The Gents
Luna & The Gents are like a breath of fresh air in a music industry that has become painfully predictable. Nowadays, each song by almost every main stream pop artist is the work of about twenty writers and twenty producers and regardless of that, most of them are little more than replicas of one another. You see, this is what I love most about bands like Luna & The Gents. They forge their own intriguing creative paths and they don’t need a truckload of people to do it. Perhaps that’s why it works. They trust what they are doing and just … well, do it. I believe this is exactly how Luna and the gang made their new EP called “Second Life (Part I)". And you can hear it in the result. It’s exhilarating.
“Perfect Day” is a great opener. It’s sunny and it’s bright … half country, half California pop ... it works. Anyone who appreciates smooth vocal harmonies and Bakersfield-styled guitar licks will love it. It moves, it grooves and it caresses with its warmth. The lyrical tag “I’ll find a way on a perfect day” rings so very true. That’s life, isn’t it? On a perfect day, it’s easy to be at your best. “Je Ne Peux Pas T’Oublier” shifts gears completely and without any warning, we’re transported to the world of French chanson. It’s a gorgeous ballad and it’s here that Luna can truly show off her fantastic voice. But there’s more to the track than just the lead vocals. The arrangement works wonders. I love the accented middle eight and the guitar solo is just … well spine-tingling. The EP ends with a longer version of the song, which has an outstanding outro where the band really lets it rip … shivers … I prefer the longer version. But regardless of which version of the song you explore first, you’ll quickly realise that you are listening to something very special. It’s a magical song and at least to these ears, the highlight of the EP.
While the EP opener harks back to the days of Merle Haggard & The Strangers, “Farm Days” brings to mind the British band, Sailor (one of my all time favourite groups). This song wouldn’t have sounded out of place on their seminal “Third Step” album. It’s basically swing a’la 20s or 30s. Obviously, it’s got a modern twist to it but still that’s where it draws its influences from. The vocal harmonies and the composition itself is brilliant. The same grooves continue with “Keep On Rockin’”. Like its predecessor, it’s got strong vocals and harmonies. There’s even a bit of harmonica on it, as there is in “Perfect Day” but on this track the instrument’s a bit more prominent. “Doggy” has elements of swing but leans more towards rockabilly. Like everything else on the EP it oozes quality both in terms of writing and performance.
Luna & The Gents are a timeless act blending swing, pop, rock and country. This isn’t music that’s never been done before but it is music that’s classy and compelling. Their new EP is a good reminder to us all that creating great art isn’t necessarily about reinventing the wheel or looking solely into the future. It can also be about reliving the past … or rather, what's best about the past – especially if you are able to pour as much of yourself into it as Luna & The Gents. From the playful moments to more intimate ones, “Second Life (Part I)” is an inspiring and original take on the sounds of yesterday and the vibes that once were. It’s a very strong offering that’s like an excellent TV series. Once the last note has faded into silence, you pause for a moment and then start eagerly waiting for “Second Life (Part II)”.
Listen here: “Second Life (Part I)”
Watch the music videos here: "Second Life (Part I)"
Research further:
Luna & The Gents webpage
Luna & The Gents Facebook
Luna & The Gents Soundcloud
Luna & The Gents YouTube
Luna & The Gents Instagram
Luna & The Gents TikTok
Luna & The Gents Spotify
Review by staff at MBTM
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