I love that modern goth is always expanding and pushing the boundaries of what fits in it’s box. I also love bands like Mark E Moon from the Isle of Man that write a love letter to the classic goth sound with every new release. It always takes a fresh new form, but the passion for early proto goth is etched in their dna. This latest release Pop Noir is rich with shadowy vibrations from the underground club sounds of UltraVox “Vienna”. Mark, Phil, and company are at their core precision artisans. They make songs with intention and exacting detail. The perfect skillset to embrace the challenge of euro club proto goth. Mark is always projecting a different inflection to his resonant baritone. This release is dripping with a raw sensuality that would make Dave Gahan blush.
Mark Sayle (lead vocals, keys, guitars)
Phil Reynolds (guitars, keys, bass)
Katie Redmond (guitars, keys)
Joseph Prince (drums, samples, keys, vocals)
Steve Halsall (bass guitar)
Shelly Rourke (vocals)
Marie Reynolds (vocals)
George Parsons (keys & guitar)
Front cover artwork by Greg Rolfes
Design & layout by Phil, Mark & Joseph
When I think of Mark E Moon the captivating guitar riffs define the sound for me. This album is so synth centric I worried those deep hook leads might take a back seat. They continue to shine from the core without needing to dominate. The title track “Pop Noir” has this amazing delayed New Order “Movement” sound that left me spellbound. It’s so hard to hear this record and not fall in love with it. Touching every note that pulls the emotional strings inside us.
Favorite Tracks:
Use of Weapons – “See the fortress in the dead of night , The long guns and the probing searchlights. A civil war and a waiting game, He walks a path by another name. ” This track has a classic Mark E Moon feel, but what a driving punk spirit banger. I love this flickering guitar lead and the protest song edge in mark’s voice. This might be a deep cut but one I couldn’t turn away from.
A Kiss Before Dying – Always open with a banger. This opening track embodied the homage to proto dance goth. Winding down damp back alleys in search of hidden dance clubs. The drum beat hear is an electrifying stampede to push Mark’s crooning hook. The choir chorus really spits the sky. This track should be rocking every dark dance night in the states.
Mark E Moon continues to be one of the most underrated bands of the modern darkscene. A group that understands and appreciates the ethos of what drew us to the macabre and strange. Balancing the line between straightforward concepts and complex dynamics. Another hit for the legend of Mark E Moon.