The Moon Runners - Starblanket
This past week I was told about this band from an avid reader of these weekly goofy little music reviews.
The Moon Runners are a band that makes their home in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
In 2015 they released their debut album containing seven of the most fantastic, addictive progressive rock songs I’ve heard this year.
The first thing I noticed was the superior sound quality of the recording. It’s all in the mix, and they got it right.
The band does a fine job mixing the vintage Space Prog sound with their updated original blasts of hard rock. The classic Prog rock band Hawkwind comes to mind at first listen.
I was enthralled and hooked about 10 seconds into the opening track, “Starblanket”. Then of course I had to listen to the whole darn thing. Trust me, it wasn’t a difficult undertaking.
Of the seven tunes in the set, two are instrumentals, “Volgathia”, and my new favourite instrumental “Galactus” are the highlights.
“Galactus” takes the listener on a seven minute spaced out musical adventure that catapults you into the deep dark places in your mind that you never thought you’d go. Huh? Just listen to it and you’ll understand mate.
The vocals throughout are spot on, and lead singer Stacy Tinant really hits the mark on “ Electric City”, showing off his superlative range. “Of Ghosts and Goblins” features the brilliant, sometime utterly amazing, guitar playing that conjures up the old space Prog guitarists of the past. Kinda spooky eh?
“Zora’s Domain”, is the hard rock tune of the bunch. These guys can play.
“Luna 51”, ends the album in fine fashion. The song offers a brilliant mix of the psychedelic and subliminal.
The Moon Runners were a pleasant surprise and I predict a future that will be nothing short of successful.
Please check out and support this wonderful Saskatchewan band. The Moon Runners “Starblanket is available now on Apple Music and at themoonrunners.bandcamp.com
The Moon Runners are, Stacy Tinant- Guitar and Vocals, Brady Frank- Bass and Backing Vocals, Brett Tinant – Drums, and Logan Amon- Guitar and backing vocals.
