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Mar 11, 2010 Moonface By Jillian Mapes

For a time I was convinced Spencer Krug did not sleep, instead spending his nights tapping away at a Casio keyboard, penning his next great indie rock fantasy. In addition to his role as Sunset Rubdown’s frontman, the Canadian avant-rocker balances responsibilities in Wolf Parade and Swan Lake, as well as a burgeoning solo project deemed Moonface. With the release of Moonface’s Dreamland EP: Marimba and Shit-Drums, there’s musical proof that Krug does, in fact, find the time for shut-eye—and that he dreams quite a bit while doing so.

The EP, along with an accompanying dream journal, found its release both in the form of a vinyl 12” and digital format. Krug’s minimalistic concept on Dreamland EP is refreshing, despite its stark contrast to his work with Sunset Rubdown. The EP is just what Krug promises in its title—interpretations of his dreams led by vocals and marimba melodies (which is, for the unfamiliar, similar to the xylophone), accented by drums. Present in Dreamland are also faint touches of synth thrown in the 20-minute, single-track EP.

As simple as it all sounds, there’s a level of surrealism that plays into most works Krug has a hand in, Dreamland EP included. It’s a lyrical story rife with dark and light imagery, told through unlikely instrumentation that suits the journey Krug describes surprisingly well. The tempo shifts and slight crescendos of the percussive instruments represent the lyrical pacing beautifully, and despite its tribal vibe, Dreamland EP feels delicate. Overall, Krug created an EP that comes across as a sincere work of high art—the ultimate compliment for a commercial musician of his stature. (www.scdistribution.com/moonface)

Author rating: 7/10