This is the third album from collective project Moon Halo, featuring the creative minds of Marc Atkinson (Riversea/Lee Abraham), Iain Jennings (Mostly Autumn) and David Clements (Riversea/One Iota)… With Alex Cromarty (ex-Mostly Autumn) and Martin Ledger (Alchemy-Live).
The talent involved definitely qualifies them to be classed as a super group with all coming from, in my opinion, very underrated bands. Crafting a blend of melodic and progressive rock on this album which has developed over the last three years, they masterfully move along a similar path to bands like Mike + The Mechanics and Mostly Autumn, with whom they would make perfect touring partners.
The first track gently trickles in on Iain Jennings twinkling piano, like a stream as it winds it’s way through a summer dappled wood, until Siren’s Song bursts from the speakers like a cascade of coloured butterflies rising from the ground, as the rest of the band kick in a joyous rhythm. Marc Atkinson’s satin vocals slide into our ears with infectious lyrics, as David Clements’ humming bass matches the swatted drum skins of Alex Cromarty. Martin Ledger threads his guitar chords through the tune like a master weaver, unleashing a short solo before the song is brought to a dramatic sudden end.
War torn and weary of the damage we do to each other track two sees the Empires Burning in this world, Marc turns his lyrics to entreat in emotive fashion, as the band march menacingly toward the listener like a behemoth of war, with the heaviest track offered on this album. Can we turn this round, push the clock back against the futility of man and learn to live in peace? Keys do battle with the jet attack of lead guitar, flying through the air as the musical offensive strafes the track to a halt.
Using the comedian analogy cleverly to illustrate a fractured relationship, on the laid back tune to the third track, as the incongruence of an old joke wears thin the partnership and romance fades. The words beseeching, recognising that this behaviour is tearing apart endearing love and with humble entreaty asking for the chance to make amends and fix it. Nailing the Punchline this time to once more shine a bright light on your reconciliation.
Repentance shown on the previous track spills into the fourth tune, with some delicious guitar from Martin weeping between the repeatedly imploring lyrics, so earnestly presented. How could anyone listening not succumb to Marc’s silken intonation as he begs you forgive The Things That I’ve Done. The man could sell sand to the Arabs.
Enough of this sob-story stuff, who’s for getting funky and breaking out the dance shoes? Are You With Me? Yeah! Turn the volume up as Iain sways and burbles on keyboards getting in the groove whilst Martin hooks you in on guitar. Alex bounces around on his drum kit, whilst David thrums his thumbs. Everyone move your body out on the floor and advocate a feeling of one love, in cinq, (or is it sync), with crazy Marc. A warm rock ballad follows as Marc sincerely reflects on how lucky we are if and when we find our one, true love and hoping they Don’t Go Changing. The music is bright and cheerful, basking in the glow of romance and the heartfelt lyrics.
Flowing keys are stroked by fluttering digits, as the rhythm section set the tempo on a song I would say sounds similar in some ways to Marc’s solo output, but filled out to a full band sound with excellent fretmanship from Martin setting a distinguishing tone, for You, Me & Everybody. Marc utilises the harmonising well on this track to add a comforting feel to his lyrics which again ask the well trodden question, why can’t we all live together in peace and harmony.
A tale of shattered, naïve innocence, for a boy with dreams and ambitions. Full of hope and happiness, untouched by all the stress and worries of grown ups and feeling anything was possible. Then adulthood complications surface collapsing dreams with reality and like two worlds colliding he’s dropped unceremoniously back to terra firma. Marc has the ability to transmit through his voice the virtues of youth in the first half of the song and with the music rising and darkening, menacing keys and torturing guitar. As it does he switches in the same tone to the disillusionment of real life relationships, as the guitar slides into a blend of Big Country meets Bill Nelson in its fading chords.
Plaintive guitar and wistful keyboards break as they follow up on the last track with subdued vocals conveying the entreaty of reconciliation. Time has flown, trailing mistakes made in it’s wake and Nobody Is Perfect, so would it be possible to talk through things and spend what time there is left enjoying each other’s company, before it’s too late? Sometimes it doesn’t have to be the large gestures of the instruments in a song but the deftness of the snippets in the background that touch the emotions, as in this song.
The pace picks up on track ten with rocky guitar licks and solos complementing slick keyboards to give an AOR edge to this tune, expressing the difficulty of deciphering the Truth as those in charge try to blind you into believing what they say and control the rhetoric. Again the musicianship is so sleek, with Dave and Alex’s bass and drums almost effortlessly slotting into place, like a well oiled machine.
Music has the ability, more I feel than any other media to convey emotion. How many of us have ‘our’ songs that are as much a part of an incident, a memory or situation as the actual reminiscence. Chris Rea’s ‘Driving Home For Christmas‘ being just one example and now Moon Halo have their own version of absence making the heart grow fonder, with the mid-tempo Back To You. The quiet reflection when you are away from loved ones, the alienation of the evening darkness until one of your tunes comes on the radio as you travel, reminding you that no matter how great the distance, the ones who mean the most are waiting for your return. Your heart swells, you sing along in a cacophony of vocals with no one around you to criticise and a moistness settles around your eyelids as you open the vehicle window taking in a breath of fresh air, then you know regardless of the distance that you will get back home.
Whether you finish with the shortest or in this case longest track, always leave them wanting more. That’s The Masterplan anyway and Moon Halo set about weaving through the proggiest track on the album driving it’s changing tempos, lengthened keyboard passages and extended guitar solos with gusto. What are we doing on this little planet of ours? Are we leading ourselves to destruction or a brave new world, as we are propelled through the dimensions of space on the tails of an ever dependable rhythm section? Only time will tell as we reach the crashing end of the album, without a knowledgable conclusion of mankind’s destiny.
So here’s a BUT people and it’s a big one! This album sounds like a band of many years who know each other and their material inside out. They fit seamlessly together, bounce off each other and make the most wonderfully infectious music. BUT, they are only a project. A collective of superbly accomplished musicians, gathering together to record sublime songs then disappearing into the ether of their other personas and day jobs. They should be a band, a living breathing entity that is fully recognised as such, promoting and touring this album to large responsive audiences. The tunes should be echoing through concert halls and across venue walls to righteous applause.
I know all the reasons and excuses against, but this is criminal and a sad indication of the music industry in all it’s gutter defiling pools of sewage. This music should be played live, it deprives the musicians involved of breathing further vigour into their exquisite songs and their more than appreciative fans the chance to see this material as a living breathing creation. Somebody make this happen, please.
It almost goes without saying that this is Moon Halo’s best album to date and one my favourites of 2025, the band’s finest playing and some of Marc and Iain’s greatest work to date. I hope they get the recognition they deserve.
Buy the album!
TRACK LISTING
01. Siren Song (5:26)
02. Empires Burning (5:40)
03. Punchline (4:48)
04. The Things That I’ve Done (5:58)
05. Are You With Me (5:35)
06. Don’t Go Changing (5:04)
07. You, Me & Everybody (7:16)
08. Worlds Collided (6:31)
09. Nobody Is Perfect (7:35)
10. Truth (3:52)
11. Back To You (5:06)
12. The Masterplan (8:05)
Total Time – 71:00
MUSICIANS
Marc Atkinson: Lead & Backing Vocals
Iain Jennings: Keyboards, Loops & Programming
David Clements: Bass, Additional Keys, Guitars, Backing Vocals
Alex Cromarty: Drums
Martin Ledger: Guitars
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 2nd May 2025
LINKS
Moon Halo – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | X
