A good artist takes styles and themes from older art and adopts it as their own. Originality does not rely on thinking of something nobody else has thought of, but on putting your own spin on something.
Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons follow this concept in their own work, and the result is music that’s not only artistically significant, but also a straight-up fantastic listening experience.
Hailing from one of the definitive American melting pots, Columbus, Ohio, Angela Perley and the Howlin’ Moons merges the folk genre with classic rock to create a distinct sound. Their latest album, Homemade Vision, is filled with tracks that possess this dichotomy of cultural and contemporary music.
The album’s first track, “White Doves,” immediately immerses you in the sheer enjoyability of the band’s style. The track maintains a balance of coolness and energy that was characteristic of early rock artists who had a firm command on the genre.
“Your Love” shows off the talent the band has, with a rousing guitar solo, and ingenious and powerful vocals, drumline, and bass. “Easy” takes an interesting turn into the mesmerizing psychedelia of bands like Pink Floyd and Mazzy Star, topping the sleepy tune off with a backtrack of crickets.
It takes some serious talent to do what Perley and her bandmates do on this album. Compound this with the artistic mindset of the band, and you get the true mark of a significant group.
Perley has adopted a practice used by truly good musicians: the practice of making it new. Listen to cuts from Homemade Vision on SoundCloud or Spotify, or buy it here.
