GUEST LIST — WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE — Album Review
Alternative | Electronic | Indie | Pop
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
So here it is guys; officially my first album review of 2022. And unlike the case of 2021, in which I reviewed an album that was technically a Christmas release of 2020 to start last year, we have an album that was released on the very first day of this new year.
The album in question is titled WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE; the debut album release from the creative collective known as GUEST LIST.
I was actually fortunate enough to have GUEST LIST get in touch with me, in regards to the release of WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE. That being said, it was great to already have a project in the pipeline for a review, in what would otherwise be a pretty scarce time of the year music-wise.
But that being said, I feel that GUEST LIST have struck a pretty ingenious idea to release their album on the very first day of 2022. After all, no other project is going to have a better chance at building up sentimentality in 2022 than the year’s very first to release. The only thing now to do is to spread the word of GUEST LIST, and to pin down what they are actually like stylistically. I guess this is where a reviewer like myself comes into play.
As previously mentioned, WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE is the first full-length album from the group. And like many great debut records, it provides an insight into what the band are capable of. That being said, there is a plethora of different sounds, styles, and moods to pick out from this record.
That being said, however, this album stands as more than a simple showcase of the band’s musical capabilities. What I was told from the press release for this album, is that WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE is “a story of love, loss, and the spaces we create for ourselves when reality becomes too painful to confront”. These were all themes that I was able to notice from the album, through the relatable songwriting and sense of vulnerability that wraps itself around the entire record. If I had to pick out a singular track that is the best reflection of this narrative, I would have to go with the album’s closer “MY LOVE IS ALIVE AND I’LL NEVER LET IT DIE”; a track that fights the grief of a lost loved one, with the undying love they feel.
Pairing with the narrative that this album has, the overall atmosphere of the record definitely feels apt for this time of year. And while its subject matter covers many things that are hard to deal with, it offers a musical helping hand for those who need it, in a reverse-psychological sort of way.
Not only does the atmosphere of the album help with the narrative and time of the release; it also has a somewhat wondrous nature to it that does add to the memorability of the record. In fact, it is this atmospheric musicality and versatility which perhaps stands as the most memorable quality of WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE.
As for where the band go from here, the best advice I could give is for GUEST LIST to now focus on chiselling out a signature style and aesthetic. Many successful debuts have covered a range of bases. But the most successful sophomore records (or at least, in my opinion) are far more concentrated when it comes to musicality. With that said, I am hopeful that this is where GUEST LIST take their sound next.
WHEN THE LIGHT OF THE MOON HITS THE SHORE is an incredibly solid debut effort. And considering that this served as my complete introduction to the musical outfit that is GUEST LIST, I was left feeling really quite satisfied with their work. I am very excited to see where the band go next, and hope that this album gets the love and attention it deserves.
Favourite Tracks: OUTTA MY MIND | MOONBATHING | MY LOVE IS ALIVE AND I’LL NEVER LET IT DIE
Least Favourite Track: SET ME FREE
CARBON COPY PRODUCTIONS
