Moon Safari (band)

Moon Safari

Moon Safari onstage at Rosfest, May 2009
Background information
Origin Skellefteå, Sweden
Genres Progressive rock
Years active 2003-present
Labels Blomljud Records
Website Official Site, Official MySpace Profile
Members Simon Åkesson
Petter Sandström
Johan Westerlund
Pontus Åkesson
Sebastian Åkesson
Past members Anthon Johansson
Tobias Lundgren

Moon Safari is a progressive rock band from Skellefteå, Sweden. Formed in 2003, the band quickly recorded a demo that caught the attention of Tomas Bodin of The Flower Kings.[1] Their genre is predominantly symphonic rock, though their music incorporates many different styles. Common characteristics of their sound include intricate vocal harmonization, acoustic or smoothly electric instrumentals, and pervasive tonal structures in the major and minor modes.

Musical Style

The musical style of Moon Safari is characterized by a symphonic instrumental sound, incorporating complex vocal harmonies. Simon Åkesson and Petter Sandström each perform lead vocals, with both of their voices often providing solo vocal melodies. However, all six members contribute to the vocal aspect of their music. Many of their melodies are sung as full vocal harmonies, and a number of their songs feature a capella sections. Major keys comprise the majority of their music, with minor keys often featured only in specific sections of their songs. They list their influences as The Beatles, and notable progressive rock bands Genesis, Marillion, IQ, and Yes, among others.[2]

Like much progressive rock music, they often utilize uncommon time signatures and extensive instrumental sections, and many of their songs exceed ten minutes in length. Their longer songs often develop and build upon several themes throughout, culminating in a powerful climax before resolving with an instrumental outro. The climactic sections are either reprisals of an earlier chorus, or the vocal actualization of a recurring instrumental theme, sung by the entire band. Their albums as a whole each contain many thematic melodies and ideas which recur throughout, giving an organic and unified feel to each one. They also have elements of popular music, such as catchy vocal melodies and universally relatable lyrical themes. Many motifs permeate the lyrics of their music, such as the concepts of lovers, nature, childhood, and the sky. In general, their lyrics tend to describe all ranges of emotions and ideas associated with our own human perceptions of the world in which we live.

Releases

Moon Safari has released four studio albums, all recorded and mixed by the band members themselves on their own label, Blomljud Records Inc. Their first album, A Doorway to Summer evokes themes of summer, the sun, and light in general as a comforting and hopeful concept. In their double album Blomljud (Flower Sound), themes of flowers and nature prevail throughout, with science fiction themes also playing a key role. Lover's End juxtaposes the story of a painful breakup with themes of nascent love, illustrating and accentuating emotions commonly associated with the stages before, during, and after a romantic relationship. Their EP Lover's End Pt. III: Skellefteå Serenade functions as a continuation of the breakup story described in Lover's End, with an additional emphasis on the powerful feelings associated with one's hometown. It also develops and reprises themes from the songs Lover's End Pt. I and Lover's End Pt. II. Their live album The Gettysburg Address was recorded at a performance in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and features songs from their first three studio albums. It was voted the best live album of all time on the website Progarchives. Their fourth studio album, Himlabacken Vol. 1 (Heaven Hill), was released on August 20, 2013.

Awards

Moon Safari won the 9th annual Independent Music Awards Vox Pop vote for best Eclectic Album "In the Countryside". The Classic Rock Society awarded them the 2012 title of "best track" for their song Lover's End Pt. III: Skellefteå Serenade[3]

Personnel

Current members
  • Simon Åkesson - lead vocals, keyboards (2003-present)
  • Petter Sandström - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica (2003-present)
  • Johan Westerlund - bass, backing vocals (2003-present)
  • Pontus Åkesson - guitars, backing vocals (2005-present)
  • Sebastian Åkesson - keyboards, guitars, backing vocals (2008-present)
Former members
  • Anthon Johansson - guitars, backing vocals (2003-2005)
  • Tobias Lundgren - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2003-2015)

Discography

Studio albums
EPs
Live albums

References

  1. ↑ "Moon Safari". Prog Archives.
  2. ↑ "Basic Info". Facebook.
  3. ↑ "CRS Latest News". Classic Rock Society.
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