MOONCAKE's self-released full-length debut album is yet another fact that Russian underground/indie scene needs no remorseful attitude anymore. I bet you wouldn't doubt if I've said this album was released by English/American/Japan Post-Rock bands - both record quality and musicianship level are top-notch. Forget sentiments like 'crappy recorded? at least they have no bears walking their streets any longer' that could have been in previous Russian/Post-Soviet Prog reviews. I dare to propose this album as a pattern of sound for further Post-Rock releases from ex-USSR area!
Down to music. MOONCAKE plays nice instrumental Post-Rock, nothing truly special, short (as for this genre) tracks, obvious tricks like voice samples and 'fall!fall!rise!rise!' piece structures, but if you're in love with bands like SAXON SHORE, GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT, PG.LOST, BRIGHT RED PAPER, JOY WANTS ETERNITY, JOHNNYTWENTYTHREE and especially YNDI HALDA, you should definitely give it a try. As most bands do these days, MOONCAKE has a plenty of free tracks both on their MySpace and LastFM pages (the one who seeks shall find!), so don't hesitate to check them. My personal favourities are 'Rain in the Astray' (even better than on single!), epic 'Horizons', energetic '444' and closing 'Short Stories...'. The further they go the better they be, I believe. I'm preparing my 5 stars for the possible second album of MOONCAKE, and 3.5 stars now. Recommended!
(From Verycd)
Tracklist:
01. Nine Billion Names... (To A. Clarke) (6:12)
02. L2 (1:37)
03. Message From Arecibo (5:23)
04. Rain In The Ashtray (5:57)
05. L1 (1:28)
06. 444 (5:29)
07. Novorossiysk 1968 (5:54)
08. L4 (1:10)
09. ['maend(a)rin] (7:48)
10. L3 (1:07)
11. The Horizons (8:10)
12. L5 (1:07)
13. Short Stories Of Methuselah Tree (9:21)
