Bob Moses Debut Offers Alternative To Traditional Dance Music

I first heard of Bob Moses in some pre-festival research at the end of last year. I found myself listening to their cover “I Ain’t gonna be the first to cry” for the fourth time in a row and I was hooked.

Their debut album 'Days Gone By' features the same earworm guitar riffs and dance-break bridges I find emblematic of the Bob Moses sound. Comparable to acts such as Jagwa Ma, they posses a similar psychedelic/electronic sound, a perfect amalgamation of dance and pop. This album has transgressed the strong house influences of their EPs. Here, we see a collection with the heavy kicks of the dance floor yet contains the endurance of something beyond the club.

'Days Gone By' is ideal for someone who verges on the edge of too much electronic music and is looking for a way back into the world of something a lil’ more chill. This album appeals to my synth-adoring, hypnotic lyric-loving self. It’s also a perfect gateway album for that “I hate electronic music” friend.

'Days Gone By' begins gradually. "Like it or Not" fills the room with ubiquitous male vocals and builds into a full-bodied, driving track. This is analogous to the direction of the entire album. Beginning gently and finishing strong, the first few tracks act as a nice foreshadowing for the sounds to come.

'Days Gone By' is a slow burner though, and its not until around "Tearing me Up" I realised I was already half way through. I found the first half of the album to be smooth and easy listening, an appetiser to the climatic second section.

Here we see the bands diversity. Don’t be fooled by the bands electronic description, "Tearing me Up" has a knee-slapping vibe about it and is a surprisingly eclectic addition. "Keeping Me Alive" demonstrates Tom Howie’s vocals at front and center, accompanied by crackling guitar licks and dreamy feminine samples. The track is a true highlight, characteristic of their casual yet affecting sound. Similarly, "Writing on the wall" offers smooth as silk percussion behind hauntingly emotive lyrics. The album closes with energetic percussion for a raw and grinding close. I found "Touch and Go" to be a fittingly broody final hoorah.

This album takes the listener through rich and soulful instrumentals and sharp and hypnotic vocals. It’s easy to follow whilst still maintaining a dynamic edge. 'Days Gone By' is far more than an album only for the dance floor. It has the dance floor dynamics that drew me in, yet ripens into a melodic and multifaceted sound that had me listening time and time again.

To find out more about Bob Moses click here.

To visit the Bob Moses Facebook page click here.

Words by Claire Fisher

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