The Act: MOON PANDA

The Release: ‘VISIONS’

The Format: DIGITAL SINGLE

The Release Date: APRIL 16TH 2021

The Digital Link: orcd.co/moonpanda_visions

The Truth: coming from the mythical, mystical lands of California and Denmark, Moon Panda is a worldly wise duo fully prepped to gently launch you into the electric currents that govern deep space. Fronted up by songwriter/singer/bassist Maddy Myers (she be the young American) and guitarist Gustav Moltke (he be the great Dane), theirs is a lushly laconic sound which has drawn comparisons to Beach House, Lana Del Ray, Mazzy Star, Warpaint, Jerry Burns, Tame Impala, Daughter and a very, very stoned Raveonettes.

Moon Panda have been stealthy in lockdown: with all live plans ditched – including appearances at SXSW 2020 – they have been quietly brewing up sonic magic behind rustic closed doors. Their amiably melancholic ‘Make Well’ EP meandered out last June, and in September a suitably casual cover of The Strokes’ ‘Call It Fate, Call It Karma’ slunk out as part of fierce panda’s Covid Version Sessions. Along the way, as love from Lauren Laverne on BBC 6music grew, Moon Panda realised they were accidentally indulging in a spot of public service broadcasting: as the streaming figures multiplied so did the messages of thanks from the lockdowned masses who were using Moon Panda’s music to transport themselves out of their locked down discomfort zones.

Brand new DIY single ‘Visions’ continues that theme, setting itself adrift on memory bliss with woozy vocals and drowsy guitar and gently ricocheting beats evoking the simple long-lost essence of lying on a summertime beach. In true Moon Panda tradition, even whilst locked down they have still managed to record their debut album. In even truer Moon Panda tradition, this single isn’t actually on it, but as hazy signposts to the future go, ‘Visions’ sets its sights high. Higher than the sun, in fact.

“This song is kind of a form of self-comfort,” they say. “It started with that hypnotic, repeating guitar line which turned into a bit of a lullaby. It starts in a pretty vulnerable place and then slowly takes off into something more lush and resilient. I think, “Keep yourself from going down, focus on the rhythm,” sums it up pretty well.”

Go warm your cockles at these re-re-re-re-scheduled shows here:

OCTOBER 26TH BRIGHTON PRINCE ALBERT
OCTOBER 27TH ST ALBANS THE HORN
OCTOBER 28TH LONDON KINGS CROSS THE LEXINGTON
NOVEMBER 4TH GUILDFORD BOILEROOM

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