An intricate and twisted journey through astral landscapes mystically dreamt up and orchestrated by Art Hour, Moonrise Surprise is an hour long collection of snappy synths, electronic beats, and slithering bass lines coalescing into hypnotic compositions that fluently twist the boundaries of genres.
Art Hour is the musical project of French drummer, guitarist, and keyboardist Arthur Waisblat, based in the French capital Paris. Waisblat’s sound under the Art Hour moniker is one that defies pigeonholing, but can be roughly described as electronic music with rich traces of progressive, jazz, and fusion, and in the case of Moonrise Surprise, space rock. Such a wide range of sounds are achieved by Waisblat through his endlessly complicated compositions which often feel like they soar into the infinite through unsettled chord sequences, cyclic and progressive bass lines, and battering beats that melt into the intricate synth arpeggios that define the core musical element of Moonrise Surprise.
The pieces on Moonrise Surprise usually exhibit numerous styles at once, jumping between the boundaries I mentioned earlier. Take the starter as an example. ‘Stratocaspheric Pulse’ is an apt starter to this grandiose collection, showcasing Art Waisblat’s affinity toward revolving synth arpeggios and rich keyboard solos that could be described as bluesy. The complex compositions may be harmonically simple, often opting to incorporate few chords, relying instead on a sense of rhythmic mayhem to get the point across. ‘Ecliptic Electric’ is an apt example of this. With its 2-chord loop sounding spacey and full of wonder, it is the slithering bass riff and it’s choppy rhythm that give the piece its charm, this time funky and dreamy, a bass riff that sounds like it was dreams up for one of Michael Jackson’s early solo records.
There’s also a big focus on texture on these 10 compositions by Art Hour. This attention can be noted on cuts like ‘Hypnotic Galactic’ and its caramel smooth synths, which are often relied upon to deliver Waisblat’s intended celestial intentions. It can also be witnessed firsthand on the album’s sole ambient piece ‘Timeless Emptiness’. A soft piece driven by glistening pianos that twinkle and shine, and by smooth synths that deliver gentle solos. The slow and deliberate atmosphere of this cut is not devoid of Art Hours usual hectic intensity, but he opts to deliver it is a calculated and laid back manner that is not found anywhere else on the album. Syncopation that can be difficult to count along is also a mainstay throughout this album’s 10 tracks. The highly fractured and fragmented structure usually serve to make the pieces feel tense and exciting, with a hint of anxiety that is bound to come being lost in space. Cuts like ‘Reckless Rocket’ is a prime example of this highly syncopated and involved rhythmic layout, exciting and anxious.
Perhaps this album’s most accessible cut is the forebodingly titled ‘Gravity Free Infinity’. This 7 minute long behemoth is full of fun and easygoing synth melodies, intricately weaving together one of the album’s most compelling compositions. Opting to tone down the rhythmic complexity for a sound that’s relatively straightforward and featuring one of the album’s few guitar lines, a funky and palm muted line, the first half of ‘Gravity Free Infinity’ is a build up to a latter half full of some of the album’s most engaging moments.
After the melancholic and typically intricate closer ‘Stardust Sadness’, featuring the album’s only vocal sample, Art Hour’s Moonrise Surprise concludes, reaching its final stop. A fulfilling and rewarding listen that kept giving throughout its runtime, Moonrise Surprise is a beautiful sounding release with convoluting rhythms and an abundance of otherworldly ambience.
