Photo credit: Shawn Brackbill
How Aloha’s “Moonless March” manages to combine ethereal lyrics of moons and stars with an existential point of view, I’ll never know. But, this track off the upcoming Home Acres album is at once hopeful (“And every sundown, we will pour a drink in celebration of this moonless march…”) and world-weary (“Everyone’s eyes, they are bracing for the fight…”)
Frankly, it’s easy to be drawn into the song’s driving drumbeat and completely overlook the poignancy of Aloha’s poetry. But, what these guys have really done is created a song that’s like one of those fantastic two-for-one deals. “Moonless March” is a song to fit every mood, every upswing or downturn. It just depends how you choose to hear it.
With about a minute and a half left, the song morphs into the type of prog rock for which Aloha is known. Talk about a two-for-one deal. This song just can’t stop giving.
Aloha will release its fifth LP, Home Acres, on March 9, 2010 on Polyvinyl Records. You can pre-order the album now.