Sombre Moon are UK-based electronic duo Amanda Jane Rogers and Steve Loxley.
Their first single ‘Blurred Reality’ received considerable acclaim on its release in October, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a delicious slice of synth-pop; the song is exquisite, with great melodic hooks. Of course, the electronica space is a crowded one at the moment, but the two key features that really set this single apart are the quality of arrangement – the track crams dozens of ideas into its sub-4-minute running time – and Amanda Jane’s dreamy vocals (stylistically she reminds me of Sarah Blackwood of Dubstar fame, and that’s high praise in my book).
The follow up ‘Hereafter’ is more driven; it’s a denser and darker affair. It’s still immediately accessible and every bit as catchy as ‘Blurred Reality’, but there’s an increased sense of directness; the synths are less ornamented here and Amanda Jane’s vocals have a note of urgency and perhaps some vitriol. It’s another great pop song, and like all great pop songs it’s able to connect at an emotional level.
‘Hereafter’ is the lead track of the eponymous EP, which also contains remixes of ‘Blurred Reality’ and the dancefloor-centric ‘Recovery’. Both ‘Blurred Reality’ and ‘Hereafter’ are available directly from Sombre Moon on Bandcamp.
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