John Elderkin and ¡Moonbeams No Mas! - The
Fall and Rise of John Elderkin and ¡Moonbeams No Mas!
Featuring the talents of modern artists
the caliber of vocalist Danielle Howie, The Fall and Rise of John Elderkin and
¡Moonbeams No Mas! is a mammoth seventeen song effort succeeding on the basis
of its contributions from the likes of Howie and some of the most accomplished
musical talents working today in the American South. This album contains
multitudes and culls its sound and approach from a variety of popular genres
and styles dotting the history of 20th and 21st century
American music. Despite being inspired to a degree by David Bowie’s The Rise
and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Elderkin’s opus is more
redemptive tale with some dark and intense turns around the way. Some of those
turns are surprising; others are well in keeping with listener’s expectations
when they begin listening to this album. It’s one of the most far reaching
releases in recent years and it’s thrilling to hear someone aiming so high but,
moreover, finding their mark.
“We Waited Five Years” is the first
song of many that adopt redemption as one of their themes. In the case of the
opener, it’s redemption so far deferred. Elderkin’s voice is improbably bright
when you listen closely to the lyrics and the obviously intentional mismatch is
meant to produce its own memorable effects. There are naturally other themes
introduced along the way, but there’s an abiding theme about journeying and
longing running through the song cycle and it finds one of its finest
expressions with this song. “Song for David Bowie” is an intensely personal and
colorfully composed lyric Elderkin’s voice brings to the full bloom of its
potential. “Gather Your Strength” is a lean and sinewy guitar controlled track
with a straight-ahead backbeat, but the guitar’s influence on this song pales
in comparison to the mark it leaves on the following number “Don’t Look Right
at the Sun”. Elderkin and his band milk this song for everything its dramatically
worth and transform it into multi-movement six string combat. There’s a real
grit, gravitas, and musical command powering performances like this and he
sounds no less comfortable as an all out rocker than he does as a melodic
acoustic-based writer.
“Keep It Down” has a smattering of post
production effects ornamenting the performance, but it succeeds primarily due
to the unsettling jangle of the song’s acoustic guitar, some unexpected
instrumentation, and exotic keyboard colors further skewing the melody.
“Danielle, Long Gone” gives Elderkin’s lauded guest star, Danielle Howie, a
chance to grab the spotlight and the result is one of the album’s most
beautiful tunes. She gives listeners a particularly thoughtful vocal likewise
capable of invoking plenty of its own musical attitude, “Give Me Your Hands”
has some hazy, purposefully indistinct qualities and might seem like an
unlikely closer, but John Elderkin’s songwriting on this release is obvious
primed to keep us on our toes and does a spectacular job doing so.
Alonzo Evans
