Earth Spun Occupants - Sun Songs & Moon Rhythms

Earth Spun Occupants

Sun Songs & Moon Rhythms
self-released; 2015

3.8 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
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tGarret Murdock (vocals/guitar/bass guitar/drums/percussion/keyboard/piano) and Matt Wargin (guitar/drum/keyboard/piano/bass guitar/percussion/backing vocals) are Earth Spun Occupants. 

Apparently they currently dabble around with several art forms such as music, video, graphic design and more. I haven’t seen or been able to find anything else besides their music. At any rate their ambition for multi-projects is admirable. Who knows? Maybe they will be the next Flaming Lips. 

Their release Sun Songs & Moon Rhythms is a thirteen-song album which experiments with off-kilter rock and pop. It’s a bright album that feels exuberant and bursts with optimism and positive vibes. 

The band gets going with one of the tracks that is extremely accessible and falls into a category of indie rock. After a sparse beginning the song locks into a groove that doesn't let go. The vocal line is catchy and the chorus just pops. On top of that the vocal harmonies are just money. ”Eight Moon” is the next track, which is a solid song. It’s percussive heavy and at times reminded me of Rusted Root. I’m not a huge fan of short filler tracks but “Mellotron String Interlude” worked surprisingly well. 

Next up is a highlight entitled “Lost in The Light” which has plenty of unique sounds. It ultimately pops but the experimental tones and textures are what really make it stand out. “Sustinence” has a Ween-esque vibe. The jam band vibe during the verse transitions into a chorus that feels more aligned with grunge. It wasn't the strongest song out of the batch but still enjoyable. 

The band also can pull off acoustic and melancholy. “Nightbloomer” is a testament to that while “The Grip” has a ridiculously catchy chorus. As the album progresses “Attraction (Can’t You See?) and the “City Speaks” were certainly really well crafted songs.

Sun Songs & Moon Rhythms is a good album which is accessible yet experimental. It in my opinion the best of two worlds and is a recipe that is most likely to attract an audience.

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