moon ate the dark: i + ii

With their second album, presented here alongside their 2012 self-titled debut, Moon Ate the Dark takes the next step of contemporary piano composition. Moon Ate the Dark II is based on an extraordinarily playful and varied approach to melodies and drones, with a dedication to subtle yet complex details. The combination of Anna Rose Carter's piano, violin, and keyboard and Christopher Bailey's electronics, amplifiers, organs, and synthesizers creates something less shadowy than their first album in favor of a more melodic -- though still thoughtful -- endeavor that manages to move upon the thin line between nostalgia and optimism. While the album's shorter pieces are mostly based on lively piano tunes completed by forceful electronic components, the attentive "Sleepy Vipers" drags the listener into drones and violin that slow the pace to create an engaging peak in the duo's recordings. The album's excellent production grips the listener until the very last notes of the wonderful closing track "Lo." Moon Ate the Dark II is an impressive achievement and a testament to the perfect match between the project's two parts.