NEWS4U JULY 2022 | MUSIC
SIMON P. MOORE Tunes the young people will
enjoy: Solo debut by Evansville guitarist explores the intricacies of folk and indie rock It all began with a parking ticket. It was the
the listener on
early days of the pandemic and Evansville's
standouts such
Simon P. Moore felt little urgency to send in
as "Our Simple
payment; instead, he let the bill sit around
Song" and
for awhile before scrawling plans for a solo
"Meditation
album on the back of the envelope. The
on a Pint." The
longtime musician - a singer and guitarist for
latter, stripped
past bands like Player X, Subotai and Kentucky
of all instrumentation other than the gentle
Nightmare - had been keeping a list of solo
strum of an acoustic guitar and soft, funereal
songs he'd always wanted to record filed away
organ, contains some of the album's most
in his brain for years. Quarantine offered the
poignant lyrics: "No one ever mentions that
perfect opportunity to finally see the project
someday you will drown/ While everybody
through - Moore just needed someone to helm
you love dies of thirst/ It's just the action of
it. Enter Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording.
bubbles/ They rise to the top and then burst."
After discussing the vision for the album, the
It's devastatingly beautiful, to say the least.
two set about assembling a talented cast of
Moore, by the way, points to "Nightdreams
players that could provide accompaniment
& Daymares" as the peak of his wordsmith.
for an intricate collection of folk and indie rock
Almost a sea shanty, the track seemingly sways
tunes - "tunes the young people will enjoy," as
like a boat out on the waves as he sings of
Moore earnestly dubbed them. Indeed, any
"nine naked maidens," "dirty hippies" and
kid with a hint of musical taste should be all
other interesting characters. Musically, it's
ears. From the bare-boned acoustic lament of
more fleshed-out with acoustic guitar backed
opener "The Dynamic" to the ache and longing
by electric piano, drums and a searing electric
of ethereal closer "Last Kiss," these 10 songs cut
guitar solo. Still, "Nancy" goes a step further
deep, speaking directly to an impressionable
with horns and woodwinds playing off a reggae
young heart.
beat and vibe, taking a page from Blondie's "The Tide is High." It's unexpected after seven
What's particularly striking about this collection
tracks of folk and indie excursions but totally
is Moore's vocal delivery which, in keeping with
cool.
the youthful theme, is full of wide-eyed wonder yet there's an underlying sadness that tugs at
The centerpiece of Simon P. Moore Sings Tunes
ZIMMER ROBINSON
COVER ART CREDIT: CHRISTINA
PHOTO CREDIT: ERYN CUSACK
the Young People Will Enjoy, however - both literally and symbolically - is "End of Winter" which intros with deft acoustic guitar fingerpicking before transitioning to a jazz shuffle as Moore, hauntingly double-tracked, sings "Spring is in the air/ You're not alone in here/ There are many others like you" in a tone that is at once comforting and disconcerting, summing up the conflict at play throughout this truly engaging work. In short, it's a complicated masterpiece. Simon P. Moore Sings Tunes the Young People Will Enjoy is available on all major streaming platforms.
"These 10 songs cut deep, speaking directly to an impressionable young heart." 32 | JULY 2022
• www.evansvillemediagroup.com
