Originally formed in Seattle and currently based in Los Angeles, psych duo Moon Darling — Michal Julian (vocals, guitar) and Eliza Karpel (bass) — evoke the spirit of classic, 1970s psychedelia with a distinctly modern perspective. The duo have established a sound that blends simmering textures, hypnotic melodies with sharp pop craftsmanship in a way that’s been described as “saucy and stylish” and “bewitching,” showcasing a balance of mystique and accessibility.
Recorded in a rented cabin in Widgeon Hill, Centralia, WA and engineer by the band’s Michael Julian, the Los Angeles-based duo’s sophomore album Hearts To Blame features material yet deeply melodic, and sees the band weaving together kaleidoscopic psych pop arrangements and driving disco rhythms with immersive experimentation. Throughout the album’s runtime, the album will reportedly moving between dreamlike, hypnotic groove-driven tracks and cinematic psych pop, showcasing the band’s ability to readily embrace versatility without eschewing cohesion or emotional resonance. Hearts To Blame finds the Los Angeles-based duo expanding beyond traditional and long-held psych rock conventions while remaining undeniably accessible.
Ultimately, the album’s captures a band that’s unafraid to evolve, pairing vintage influences with modern production and an adventurous songwriting. “The title Hearts To Blame really is as literal as it sounds,” the band says. “It’s about making choice and guiding yourself through life by the feeling you have in your heart, whether those are good choices or bad.”
Each of the album’s songs were written in direct response to the emotions and circumstances the band was living through at the time of its creation, making it an album that functions as both a reflection and outlet. Arguably, the album may be the most honest of their growing catalog.
“Coyote,” Hearts To Blame‘s latest single is a hooky mix of metal, disco and New Wave featuring Julian’s metal-styled falsetto floating over a galloping arrangement of punchy disco rhythms with an even punchier bass line, Stevie Nicks “Stand Back”-era synth oscillations and shimmering and squiggling bursts of guitar,Inspired by the boundless sense of adventure that comes from being out on the open road, “Coyote” seemingly channels Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” Iron Maiden, Dio and the like, but if they had a related a disco-metal album.
Filmed and edited by the duo, the accompanying music video features the duo within a feverish, psych pop dreamscape but seen through a running coyote’s mouth. It’s DIY, low-budget, delirious and downright fun.