There is something special about a musical duet that gets each other…complementing and completing each other artistically…
Firstly, there is the emotional reaction from the audience…it’s like a buddy cop movie or a romantic comedy…the idea that two completely different artistic charismata share the stage.
Secondly, there is the controlled creative environment that consists of two creative minds fusing together to create something truly unique.
…it’s very appealing…
…and when they click together and click with the audience, you know you’ve hit a home run.
Today, we have a very special musical duo, across the ocean from each other…
German composer/producer Tom Aries and Canadian writer/singer Jordana Moon bring us
“Moon and Aries”.
Let me first recognize the chance that got them together, especially with such naturally artistic last names.
Tom is a music composer, producer, songwriter, classically trained pianist, and a synthesizer guru from Germany…he grew up to the sounds of 80s synth-pop while playing the piano, both concepts fused within Tom and were the basis of what he’s become musically and artistically.
He composed music for video games and films…and mainly focused on instrumentals.
Tom mainly composes on the piano before producing his epics in his studio.
Jordana is a Canadian singer and songwriter…but with a twist.
She likes to include deeper and more philosophical concepts in her lyrics to empower the listeners by engaging their imagination and mental capacities.
She composes the instruments she can play..which is actually a lot…including the piano, guitar, ukulele, and violin…to mention a few.
Both Tom and Jordana…or should I say, Moon and Aries…
They started their musical journey with their debut album “Arrival” which had 9 songs, then moved to their following album, which was an EP actually called “Paradise”, including 5 songs….which brings us to their latest album release…” Break The Matrix”, a concept album with 9 songs, released on the 23rd of March of this year.
…without further ado, let’s jump into their latest album “Break The Matrix” and check it out…
The album has many elements fused together masterfully, including a bit of electronic, ambient, synth-pop, a bit of trance, and some cinematic elements…and of course with the vocals that actually have many roles in the music in this album.
The album starts out with “Illumination Society”…
It starts out with a bit of a whimsical mood, the musical verses have a bit of a chill pop feel to it…while the chorus has a bigger sounding feeling with some trance elements and some cinematic orchestration to it…the lyrics are deep and symbolic, a staple of Moon’s lyrical approach.
Going into the second track “The Butterfly Effect”…
This song has the piano as the centerpiece…beautiful chords… an emotional and impactful vocal performance, this one is definitely a highlight.
Vocals have so many layers and are actually utilized as instruments…pads and fills…very intricate design to the whole song.
Once again, a song with the piano as the centerpiece…the third track of the album, “Never For Me”…
The song has an 80s mood more than anything before it in the album…the progression of the song is very relaxing and has this kind of 80s/90s chill mood.
It can be played all day on a loop and would be more than fine for the listeners. It gets you in some kind of a trance…you keep repeating it over and over…
Vocals are doing their thing…and synthesizers are doing theirs
Huge feelings of nostalgia with this song, the fourth track…” Rescued”…we have a mix between 80s synth-pop sounds and cinematic strings…the synth sounds are very unique and fused perfectly with the piano and vocals.
I’d like to warn you…the piano melody for this track will stick to your brain like gum to your hair.
…in the best way possible.
Synthesizers arpeggios greet us into the fifth track “From Another Dimension”…very aptly named.
The intro is exactly taking you to another dimension and another world.
…the energy is higher in this track, it’s more upbeat, faster, and more energetic.
…reminiscent of the 80s/90s trance chill vocal songs…would be great to play in your car, on a long road…the sounds are all electronic, it is a completely different dimension…
Leaving the other dimension and returning home for the sixth track…a different musical mood…with more piano and an indie-sounding drum kit…with a strong 90s kind of drum beat, steady and powerful.
….now for a very different experience, going into the seventh track “The In Between”, we’re greeted with the sounds of the ocean…the piano then the vocals enter after that…the song has a more emotional kick to it…we also hear some new and different instrumentation like the sax that plays behind the mesmerizing vocal layers and harmonies.
The piano stands firm once again with the eighth track intro…” Closer and Closer”.
…for some reason I feel something different with this track…the mixing brings out something very special in this song…the feeling of spaciousness in this track is very encompassing.
The bass and kick are punchy…and also feel reminiscent of the 90s, which is my favorite musical time period.
…we find ourselves at the last stop of this journey…the ninth track of the album…titled “Losing Control”…
This time around, Moon and Aries bring us something new, fresh, and special…they both sing on this track…the song is the perfect surprise gift to end this amazing journey.
Moon and Aries are definitely breaking new ground in “Break The Matrix”, they have successfully captured both of their musical souls and put them in this album, so it can live forever.
We wish you all the best in life Moon and Aries, you have taken us on a trip down memory lane and made our emotions flow like a waterfall.
Cheers!
For More Reviews on Moon and Aries. Click Here.