MOONSOON – East of Asteroid

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://moonsoon1.bandcamp.com/album/east-of-asteroid

Fervently dynamic and emotionally potent, this quietly thrilling debut album by Moonsoon is neither short on finesse nor heart. An output of great depth then, and even though it shows major affection for the Floydian soundscapes of the seventies and eighties, it never shows off or reads as pastiche, nor does it lose the plot at any point in time for that matter.

Rich in haunting, melancholy atmospheres and proudly displaying a melodic sensibility that would put many other prog acts to shame, East of Asteroid exudes a refreshing and invigorating vibe, and it stands tall and proud as a mature, cohesive, and ambitious piece of work that delivers plenty of crescendo-building tunes with just the right amount of drama and enthusiasm to them. There is a sense of humor and quirkiness to it too, which only adds to its charm. The textures are particularly noteworthy, and there are multiple layers and nuances to be discovered, marveled at, and enjoyed throughout. Also, it hardly hurts that main man Helge Nyheim (drums/vocals) and producer/multi-instrumentalist Daniel Hauge have assembled such a stellar cast of musicians to bring their musically eclectic visions to life. The vocals do come up a bit short on a few occasions in that they fail to bring the necessary pathos and passion to the songs as they call out for someone with a wider range, but again, those instances seldom rear their heads.

Overall, this well-produced affair is excellent company and a proper prog-ish delight that you will find yourself coming back to again and again. Highlights include “The Nasty Man,” “Crack Our Codes,” and “Rays of Cosmic Embers (Part II).” An impressive debut effort put together by pros.