Thematically, Moontype explore all of what makes us human, from coming-of-age longing on ‘Your Mom’ to navigating a crush on ‘About You’. Beneath the surface level, a more visceral notion comes to light; the group aren’t afraid to delve deeper.

Moontype are a fresh-faced Chicago trio; though small, they are mighty, with expertise and ability that is a cut above the rest. Their debut album Bodies of Water is conceptually brilliant and overall a very compelling listen. Its release came hot on the heels of our recent interview with the band and, from start to finish, it is a reflective journey upon what has shaped the three friends into the unit they are today. Lead vocalist Margaret brings mellifluous vocals to an oftentimes experimental and multifaceted experience, while Ben and Emerson, the group’s guitarist and drummer respectively, incorporate their impressive instrumentation. Opener ‘Anti-Divinity’ is an all-encompassing introduction to Moontype’s almost genreless style, featuring fuzzy guitars, undulating bass and hazy vocals. 

Thematically, Moontype explore all of what makes us human, from coming-of-age longing on ‘Your Mom’ to navigating a crush on ‘About You’. Beneath the surface level, a more visceral notion comes to light; the group aren’t afraid to delve deeper. ‘What Will I Learn’ offers affecting rhetoric of choosing pain over suffering, of allowing yourself to feel that immediate hurt rather than prolonging an irksome experience. As the longest track thus far, this song begins modestly and develops into a crashing finale, which is a trend present across the record’s lengthier tracks.

We had already learnt of frontwoman Margaret’s favourite artists in our interview — the likes of Adrianne Lenker and Gillian Welch inspire her and track ‘3 Weeks’ is riddled with this influence. Subdued production at first allows Margaret’s storytelling (i.e expert songwriting entrenched in emotion and metaphor) to be at the forefront of the track, while Ben and Emerson’s talents still shine through, especially at the 1:40 mark, when gentle percussion is introduced to give this number a real folk feel. Towards the backend of the track, it’s taken up another notch, resulting in an impressive and hearty climax. 

Jarringly, we are immediately drawn back into the grungy realm of Moontype’s world on ‘When You Say Yes’, where the acrobatic guitar solo is no doubt the highlight of the track. These shorter songs act almost as interludes, though they are never fillers, still carrying substantial weight. As the track ends, it makes way for ‘Ferry’, a lament on lost friendships and making peace with growing out of someone or something you once loved. Like many of Moontype’s songs, ‘Ferry’ hits an anthemic peak that is far from overwhelming but needed, like a reprieve. 

As the album winds down, the band’s momentum picks up. ‘Alpha’ is compositionally more chaotic than what we’ve heard up until this point, with interesting time signatures and jazzy guitar melodies. More than anything, this track showcases the group’s musical knowledge, expertise and ability to craft something unique special. With an almost eight-minute runtime, ‘Me and My Body’ is the record’s last hurrah, standing as, by far, the rawest and most personal output from the album. It’s an exploration into Margaret's self (and higher self), defined by her heartfelt delivery. It ties the whole album together nicely as an epic debut.

Bodies of Water is out now via Born Yesterday Records.