Moonlight Concessions by Throwing Muses (album)

At first listen, there might be a tendency to be a little disappointed in this, the eleventh album from Throwing Muses - there is not so much of the thundering drums and heavy laden guitar riffs we might expect. I mean after all, you have Dave Narcizo behind the kit, why the heck wouldn't you use him to full effect?

But then, on second (and third) listen, what this does have, is plenty of atmosphere - I mean fairly dripping with brooding, ever-so slightly sexy atmosphere, perhaps hinting at the fact that this record was written largely across two different coastal settings; the oppressive Gulf heat of New Orleans and the slightly lighter, sunnier refrains of Southern California. Stevie Chick, writing in the Guardian, says it conjures up "a dark, parched ambience" full of "austerity and tension." Lead Muse, Kristin Hersh called the approach to this record as being "back to basics" re-kindling the atmosphere of the band in their first flush.

Summer Of Love opens things up, with a sultry shuffle, or as the bands official Bandcamp entry says, " a haunting baroque overture." What becomes a regular feature across this record are big sweeps of driving acoustic guitar paired with the haunting echo of the cello - in this song, punctuated by squalls of electricity, like lighting breaking up the oppressive summer heat. You can really feel the warmth on this one.

Throwing Muses: Summer Of Love (Official music video)

South Coast has Kristin Hersh almost whooping behind her strident acoustic strumming. There is the first hint of menace, she almost spits the words out and the riff at times almost sounds like a slowed down Don't Fear The Reaper. Theremini meanwhile is gentle, with slightly discordant strings that seep into your ears, while Hersh almost whispers, the song rocks like a lullaby.

Throwing Muses: South Coast (Live in Leeds, last weekend)

Libretto is a stand out track for me, soaring from above its modest guitar and cello rhythm; "It's so cold honey - come home" pleads Hersh. As the subject is "getting warmer", she demands "do you take your coffee like I take me tea." I mean what kind of question is that?

That cello rips across Albatross too, providing a sense of urgency, until it suddenly stops and we change pace. A carefully picked guitar chips out a much slower line; "I know you aren't asking to thrive, just survive." It seems that the albatross can no longer fly and survive - "I'm just trying to keep us alive."

Throwing Muses: Libretto (Audio only)

Haunting arpeggios underpin aching cello bursts on Sally's Beauty, and with a gentle hum of percussion it sounds like you are on the beach at midnight, listening to waves breaking on the shore. Drugstore Drastic, the first single from the album, starts with a bright burst of acoustic with Hersh's voice, a husky  staccato, as the guitar opens up - and finally we hear the sound of Dave's snare drum, upping the ante some more. As the song ends you are wondering how such low key acoustic instrumentation can make so much racket.

Throwing Muses: Drugstore Drastic (Audio only)

You're Clouds is punctuated by the thwack of the bass drum and some brushed percussion, which set the pace, the guitar chugs nicely and the cello adds some depth. Hersh's vocals are starting to sound crazed; "Thank God you came around, thank God you're a clouds" - reaching for a crescendo as if they are going to drag us off the cliff and into the sea.

Title track, Moonlight Concessions, is the grand finale and Hersh's voice has calmed now, allowing itself to be consumed by the lush melody line; "I took a bullet for you - smiling."

Throwing Muses: You're Clouds (Audio only) 

This record definitely took two or three listens to settle into, but once you are into its groove, that slightly oppressive, dirty heat really does work its way in. I've not been to the Louisiana coast before, but it does make me feel like I think it would, if you stood on a New Orleans porch late on a summers night.

Track Listing:

Summer Of Love

South Coast

Theremini

Libretto

Albatross

Sally's Beauty

Drugstore Drastic

You're Clouds

Moonlight Concessions

Notes:

Produced by Kristin Hersh and Steve Rizzo at Stable Sound, Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Released on 14 March 2025

Featuring: Kristin Hersh, David Narcizo, Bernard Georges + Pete Harvey (cello)

Score:

Definitely not washed up, a haunting - 7.0 / 10