It may only be eight songs, but David Vandervelde’s debut The Moonstation House Band feels as full as any album. Full of swirling indie glam, it exudes an unassuming grandeur and unavoidable catchiness. Vandervelde’s boyish voice and laid-back vocals propels the album beyond the bewitching psychedelia. The Moonstation House Band has both relevance and upside: Vandervelde’s lo-fi sound gives it an immediately inviting, household feel while leaving the doors wide open for further progress.
Overall, this album is well-arranged and dense much like a cabin out in the woods made of real trees. There’s an air of legitimacy throughout. The opening track, "Nothin’ No" sets the feel-good tone with highly descriptive lines ("Getting high on the front porch/With the sunshine in your hair.") A rocking chair beat drives surging guitars and Vandervelde’s memorable vocals. More upbeat are the tracks, "Can’t See Your Face No More" and "Murder In Michigan" that show off The Moonstation House Band‘s finer acoustic moments.
The album really covers a lot of territory in a short amount of time. "Jacket" is a Lennon-esque stomp while the ending track, "Moonlight Instrumental" has a quiet, dream-like flow. Vandervelde makes switching up rhythms and moods seem relatively easy. Most of The Moonstation House Band has a highly organic feel, as well, as if it was made on a commune. In this way, it’s an especially warm album in its honesty.
For a debut, The Moonstation House Band is highly accomplished and more importantly, shows several signs of promise. Most of the songs, while multi-layered, feel under-produced, so the more experience and development Vandervelde gets, the better.
