Sometimes you can truly sense the journey behind a record, and that’s the case with The Moss’s new album Big Blue Moon.
By Graeme Smith
Big Blue Moon is the band’s first album since 2021 and acts as an introduction to them for us.
“This is our first complete project in years,” says singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tyke James. “I feel like a totally different person from the last time we released an album, it’s been so long.”
The band certainly haven’t been inactive over the past few years. They’ve been writing, touring, and “growing as people.” That might explain why Big Blue Moon feels like a journey, one that crosses borders stylistically and emotionally.
Its standout feature is its serious quirkiness. Tracks like Devil’s Lettuce laments a loss of a lighter, a small but significant inconvenience. Elsewhere we get Latin-infused indie rock, transporting us to exotic shores while feeling reassuringly familiar. Big Blue Moon opens things in cantering, lively, and seductive style. Galleria is beautifully moody and atmospheric.
James lives in a nomadic state, dotting himself about in Santa Cruz, France, and midwestern USA. “Moss grows on every continent,” explains James about the origin of the band’s name. “It’s not to be confused by its cousin algae. It’s neither commonly noticed nor loved, but it’s everywhere; it’s ubiquitous. All the things you’ve heard about moss apply to us.”
That sense of modesty and adventure comes through in The Moss’s music. Canyon creates a scene, feeling as big and engulfing as its title. Passport has a sense of languid movement. Your Way is the album’s final manifesto, touching on its themes of freedom, self confidence, and living life by one’s own rules.
“We love how [Big Blue Moon] came together and are proud to have found a more current version of our music in the studio this past year,” James adds. “It represents breaking free from social norms and living life the way you want it to be, and not on other people’s terms.”
With winter firmly banished and spring sprung, now is certainly the time to be dreaming of adventure. The Moss’s Big Blue Moon should provide the perfect soundtrack. Its warmth, ambition and honesty make it an irresistible record.
To keep up to date with all things The Moss, you can head to their website and follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
Big Blue Moon is out now, and you can listen to it below.
