Luma Fade is a self-styled “post-apocalyptic” dream pop artist based in Clearwater, Florida, USA who has just come to my attention thanks to the release of his new album, born from pandemic lockdown. It’s called Lunar Decay.
By Graeme Smith
Luma Fade is the solo project of Benjamin Forrest Dalton. Having grown up on a diet of ’80s post-punk and ’90s alternative rock in his teen years, he pushes those influences through his own unique lens, experimenting with the synthesised sounds of GarageBand and Logic. The result is this nine-track collection.
Lunar Decay tells the story of a future Earth subject to a lunar catastrophe. In the ashes of the world, human spirit and resilience shines through. It opens with Passion Fall and it’s a moody start. Mournful guitars are met with cantering percussion before soulful, melancholic vocals come in, painting a vibrant picture of disaster. All the elements build to a soaring, emotional climax. It’s a strong opening gambit.
Nova Sunshine opens gently with some plucked guitar before reaching a warm lo-fi groove. Spring Sobriety brings with it a bittersweet composition that’s full of reluctant hope. Monsoon Morning livens things up with a stormy, relentless arrangement with plenty of layers of fuzz. It’s a highlight.
Autumn Endings sits at the heart of the album, giving us a brooding post-punk moment with echoing guitars and delicate vocals. It’s another highlight.
Dimmer Summer is a simmering track with some rises and falls that take us from the heavy to the soaring. Loop Analog is suitably cyclical with some ponderous melodies. Twilight Hours gives us dreaminess tethered by groovy percussion. Winter Warming closes the album with a cosmic moment, full of ethereal atmosphere tethered by moody alternative rock. It’s a final highlight.
A limited-edition 12″ vinyl version of Lunar Decay is available via Luma Fade’s Bandcamp. You can check out the digital version of the album below.