MOONSHINE BLAST left us nearly six years ago with ‘Reality Fear’, leaving us with a promise for the next one: that of densifying its musical universe, anchoring it more deeply and energizing its sonic approach. A promise hampered by a pandemic that has disrupted many an artistic trajectory.
Now 2024, “Realm Of Possibilities” marks a major comeback, illustrating how far the band from Paris has come in reinventing itself and reaching a new musical peak. While rooted in light neo prog, MOONSHINE BLAST’s music has a strong influences from ’80s elaborated pop-rock and melodic rock. Pat Mastelotto (Mr. Mister) play some drums on the album.
For this comeback, Moonshine Blast surrounds itself with rock stalwarts: the mix is entrusted to experts Bruce Soord and Steve Kitch of The Pineapple Thief, and the album benefits from remarkable contributions from bassist Colin Edwin (ex- Porcupine Tree) and Mastelotto. Their contributions bring depth and finesse to every moment.
Where “Reality Fear” drew its influences from TOTO, Genesis, Pendragon and even Supertramp, “Realm Of Possibilities” embraces a contemporary progressive sound, bold and introspective. The shadows of Steven Wilson, The Pineapple Thief or Eighties Genesis loom large, but Moonshine Blast goes beyond homage to fashion a unique sonic identity, imbued with warmth and energy.
From the very first tracks, the band captures the listener, deploying a rich, nuanced sonic palette that explores the pushing of artistic boundaries.
Singles ‘Realm Of Possibilities’ and ‘Only You’ embody the accessible side of the album without betraying its depth. The work reveals itself over the course of several listens, revealing a delicately chiseled complexity. ‘Cruel Immission’, for example, illustrates this density, enriched by orchestral touches that introduce a precious delicacy before a nervous, galvanizing finale.
‘Liquid Feels I’ and ‘II’ offer total immersion in a subtle balance between instrumental technicality and raw emotion, reflecting the depth of relationships and the tension between individuality and human connection. This is undoubtedly where the strength of “Realm Of Possibilities” lies: each composition embodies an act of transcendence, as much for its melodic richness as for the intensity of its arrangements.
‘Broken Arrow”, with its poppy chorus, exposes deeply personal sides, revealing a desire to break free of limits, to draw on influences while remaining true to oneself.
The highlight of the album is undoubtedly ‘The Cell’, a daring 16-minute track in which Moonshine Blast pushes back the boundaries of its musical universe. In this composition, the electro build-up and progressive touches give the track an immersive, exhilarating dimension, symbolizing a form of inner quest in which established conventions are defied. ‘The Cell’ perfectly embodies the idea of going beyond one’s dreams and surpassing oneself to offer a contemporary sound experience.
The album closes on a purified note with ‘When The Wind Blows’, a touching acoustic ballad, bringing a gentle and sincere conclusion to this musical journey. The accuracy of the vocals and the expressive intensity throughout the album underline the depth of the relationship forged between the musicians, like a shared quest for authenticity.
With “Realm Of Possibilities”, Moonshine Blast follows in the footsteps of the great bands of the 70s & 80d, shaking up codes and playing with limits. The influences on which the band relies are transformed here into raw material, with a contemporary sound.
This album embodies the ambition of those who dare to dream big, where complexity and density are never ends in themselves, but the foundation of musical exploration. “Realm Of Possibilities” is an ambitious work that invites the listener on a journey, where each track is a step towards the fulfillment of a vision, a challenge to surpass oneself as the musicians have done in this album.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
01. Realm Of Possibilities (4:00)
02. Cruel Immission (7:32)
03. Only You (3:44)
04. No Exit (5:47)
05. Liquid Feels I (3:52)
06. Liquid Feels II (4:30)
07. Broken Arrow (5:41)
08. Strangled (4:02)
09. Fractal (7:55)
10. Under Control (6:23)
11. The Cell (16:02)
12. When The Wind Blows (6:00)
Line Up:
- Nicolas Duke / lead vocals, piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar
- Gabin Rock / guitar, backing vocals
- Renaud Lyabastre/bass
- Thomas Zecchinon / drums, percussion
With:
-Colin Edwin/bass
- Pat Mastelotto / drums
Moonshine Blast – Realm Of Possibilities (2024)
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