[REVIEW] Moon Panda's New Album 'Dumb Luck' is Blissfully Dreamy

★★★★

Big changes have happened in the two years since Moon Panda released their last album, Sing Spaceship, Sing!. The duo have relocated from Denmark to Southern California, built themselves a home studio and brought a son into the world. Along with  extending their line-up in the creation process to a 4-person group, these moments have all informed the creation of the band’s third album, wittingly titled Dumb Luck. 

This tight, intricately crafted record has a strong sense of collaborative spirit that shines through each chord. The line-up consists of Maddy Myers (Vocals/Bass), Gustav Moltke (Guitar), George Godwin (Bass/Keys) and Josh Cabitac (Drums) with Adam Thein and George on production duties. The way they play together feels like a group of friends completely in sync, connected on the same wavelength. Every guitar chord, drum solo and record scratch feels layered and sharply arranged. Each member gets their time in the spotlight, again highlighting the collaboration on show. 

The opening track, ‘Lost World’, unfolds with jittery synths layered into a buttery smooth drum progression as Myers glides across the track. ‘Fantasy’ is effortlessly dreamy with harmonies that are lighter than air, with a closing guitar riff that’s sure to stick in your head for the coming weeks ahead. Although they may be classified under the dream pop label,  considering these songs as chilled or laid-back is a disservice to the deep layers unfolding on each track. ‘Superstore’ pounds along with hearty drums leading into delicate keys, blending into strings and soaring synths, with added record scratches for that extra tinge of atmosphere.

It's not just the music and production that are strong points; the lyricism elevates the overall sound. On ‘Penny’, Myers laments about two halves of herself, almost wrestling with her alter ego, inspired by how much change she’s gone through in the past few  years. Another winner of a track, ‘Butterknife’ uses the spreading tool as an allegory for a futile defence against another one’s love that’s too “High Cost”, all while backed by an irresistible chorus and bluesy guitar licks. The biggest highlight in this collection, however, is ‘The Light’: a disarmingly beautiful song that’s inspired by the couple’s 1-year-old son. The frank lyricism, matched with the self-assured tone in her vocals and elongated notes, is goosebump-worthy: “All the little stars in your eyes, it's like night redefined.” The progression throughout the track is just as impactful, with the drums and bass kicking in at just the right time for a satisfying instrumental breakdown.  

Because the album is very dedicated to sticking to its specific vibe, a couple of the tracks feel as if they are too low-key. Songs like ‘Automatic’ and ‘Avalanche’ at times sound like lesser versions of the songs that came before them, with similar drum patterns and buildups. ‘Automatic’ especially struggles to reach a satisfying end, with repetitive choruses and lulling progression. But these are, at worst, minor gripes when the album is so tight-knit and vocally doesn’t miss a beat.  

This is an album born out of joy and complexity, with the strength of collaboration and connection at its core. The majority of the elements at play here flow together like clockwork, recently cleaned with WD-40. Moon Panda are at their most self-assured and  grounded this time round. They’ve come together to create a realm for not just their fans to escape into, but the band themselves. Intrinsically arranged and crafted, it’s almost guaranteed to have a few melodies you’ll be whistling throughout the day. By the time the closing track ‘Loveflow’ comes around, the lyrics “Keep me in your head” take on a universal feeling; one for the person this song was about, another for the music itself being released to the world, and for the people listening to the album, soaking it all in.