War on Sound Mini Album is sort of an appetizer to the Moonbabies upcoming full-length release. A lazier band might consider eight songs totaling around forty minutes as a completed effort that includes eight originals and two covers. Just throw some filler in there and sell it for eighteen bucks. Ola Frick and Carina Johansson, who make up Moonbabies, obviously aren’t satisfied with that sort of half-assed bullshit, thankfully.
Hailing from Sweden, this duo has an electronica sound with strong pop sensibilities. With their guy/girl vocals, they are most comparable to Stars or The Postal Service but also call to mind Air and Granddaddy.
Regarding their two covers, Moonbabies has provided an interesting take on Syd Barrett’s “Arnold Lange” and Midnight Oil’s “Stars of Warburton.” They may be mostly electronica, but the duo is not afraid to show off their precursors. Also included is an early studio take of their song “The Orange Billboard.”
“Ghost of Love” starts with a pulsating synthesizer that is underscored by a pounding bass drum, the song’s sharp sound plays along with the vocals, which are almost hollow and luminescent. By the end of the song, they have a massive wall of sound that is common amongst most of the tracks on the album.
War on Sound is a splendid “little” album and heads above most full lengths I’ve heard so far this year. The only song that leaves me puzzled is “Don’t Shoot the Ranger” that, with the exception of a few added sounds, appears to be an instrumental version of The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane.” For those of you unfamiliar with Moonbabies, it will make a nice introduction and leave you ready for what else they have in store.
