A duo from Finland, Mia Takela and Olli Aarni (aka Misty Moon) build sweet, cautious songs where dreamy, lo-fi, twee-pop and synth-pop unfold with a romantic quality that was built from two keyboards and a drum machine. Love is the primary subject matter here, as the pair spent three years working on this in their living room while drawing influence from their real-life love story.
The title track starts the listen bare and with much attention to mood, as charming synth lays the foundation for the very dreamy setting where soft, pretty vocals are used sparingly but effectively, and “Low” continues the feel with a warm beat and a more ambient approach to pop psychedelia.
The middle of the listen doesn’t stray too far from their formula, thankfully, and includes the spacey sounds and precisely layered “Shimmering Light,” where, even at nearly eight minutes, never out welcomes its blurry stay. “Out In The Dark,” quite possibly the album’s best, then offers summery melodies and ’80s throwback nods, with its quirky yet charming synth leaving an indelible mark.
The album finishes strong with the soaring beauty of “Light In The Night,” where an ethereal quality is complemented by hypnotic synthetic drumming and gorgeous vocals from Takela, as well as the mesmerizing “Lullaby,” where repetition resides amid hazy landscapes that surround wordless singing.
Although this is their first release as Misty Moon, Aarni brings a lengthy resume of solo work, while Tarkela’s well-seasoned vocals really punctuate the loving climate. The duo encourages fans to listen to Nu-Moon after dark, and I can only assume the vulnerable and intimate portraits they create seem to settle in more comfortably during night, although there’s enough bright melody here to soundtrack a beach day, too.
