Whole
Self-Released, 2022
9/10
The husband-and-wife duo of Bridgette Eliza Moody and John Seasons, as Haunted Summer the duo employ psyche-rock and dream-pop ideas into their harmonic and occasionally other worldly textures on this very well executed 3rd album.
“Empty Nostalgia” starts the listen with much dreamy warmth, as a gentle folk spirit enters the spacey moments, and “Camera” follows with soft singing amid gentle drums, cozy pop melodies and a nostalgic haze.
The title track lands in the middle, and glides with a very agile and stirring appeal, while “The Tree” brings charming acoustic guitar and a poetic delivery of very memorable indie-pop meets dream-gaze.
Closer to the end, the more firm “The Big Knife” soars with a cosmic demeanor and “Retrogade” exits the listen intimate, eloquent and abstract in very memorable ways.
On more than one occasion I was reminded of My Bloody Valentine, Mazzy Star and Simon & Garfunkel, and I doubt anyone is going to have a problem with that, or the pair’s chilling, tranquil and heartfelt melancholy.
Travels well with: Alice Cohen- Artificial Fairytales; Panda Riot- Extra Cosmic