Tremendous blooms of sound adorn St Eriks Street’s soulful “Moonstruck”. A whole series of styles informs the work, ranging from bits of dub to jazz to symphonic sweeps all while retaining his unique approach. Sounds are virtually sculpted for they have a serenity about them. Full of such hope the radiant bursts of color help to give the album a cohesive quality. Best taken in as a whole St Eriks Street runs the gamut from early house to 90s chill-out room aspects to a modern day take on hip-hop. When taken in with a healthy dose of experimentation the album manages to completely surprise and even confound at times.
Influences abound throughout the whole of the journey. On the B-boy side, there’s a bit of Autechre’s presence that can be felt in the oftentimes Byzantine series of patterns that emerge out of the textures. Elements of the beloved and recently disbanded Daft Punk also emerge, as does their similar love of marrying rock and dance into something truly arena-spanning. Beyond this, St Eriks Street brings to mind some of early Warp Records efforts, as there is a “Second Summer of Love” aspect to the structure of the album.
Surf rock meet shoegaze starts the album off on a high note with the glistening detail of “The New Life”. Languid, laid-back beats make “Chilled Wine” an absolute joy to get lost in. Polished synthesizer chords lead the way as “Time of Your Life” rolls on through. One of the highlights of the album there is a pastoral beauty to it that brings up imagery of Boards of Canada’s nostalgic flavor. “Moonstruck” brings a neat Beach House meets hip-hop aesthetic for it is an absolute celebration. With a bit of Demdike Stare’s finesse is the mystical “Leavenworth II”. Chords soar up into the sky on the expansive scope of “NYC Lullaby” featuring an exquisite level of affection to it. Electro, folktronica, and more make “Keeping Score” a nimble piece. Tactile percussion alongside soothing samples at the edges of the sound give it a hint of mystery to it. Aptly named “The Sunniest Day” takes the joyous aesthetic of the Beach Boys and brings a gleeful industrial framework into it. Ending things on a reflective note is the soothing wash of “Deepest Valley”.
One of those life-affirming albums, “Moonstruck” encompasses an entire life lived to the absolute fullest, as St Eriks Street proves to be an exceptional storyteller all without needing to say a single word.
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