400 Lonely Things — Mother Moon
A sprawling paean to a bygone era of art, music, and inspiration, 400 Lonely Things' latest, Mother Moon, has the duo paying homage to the art movement that went on at the Banning Mill many years ago. Now defunct, the mill and its portait (Richard Scott Hill's "Minotauress," also the album's cover) serve as a wonderful starting poing for Varian and McCall to construct a dark, sample-based work that not only encourages listeners to start new artistic journies, but also allows them to revel in the beauty of the past and rekindle what has shaped their hearts and minds.
Utilizing found sound, samples, and structured around a dark ambient skeleton, Mother Moon gives the listener the keys to the kingdom, not only into the old mill, but into the souls of all those who took solace in the old mansion, albeit through one specific attendee's lens. For many experimental music fans, their first scene served more of a purpose than just bodies at shows; they learned from, talked to, and furthered their own personal expression with their fellow fans/artists. It's no surprise that Craig Varian felt the overwhelming urge to pay tribute to Banning Mill, its art, denizens, legacy, and inspirations. While darker than traditional ambient work, Mother Moon plays more toward the dreamier end of things instead of crushing with heavy darkness. This works far better for 400 Loneley Things' aim with this piece, and the dreaminess allows for more self-reflection. In addition to pretending one is in the halls of Banning Mill, speaking about art, listening to new music, and growing one's soul, the listener is allowed to reconstruct the Banning Mill of their own mind and heart.
Inspiring and magically haunting, Mother Moon captures all the elements of dreams, memories, and hopes that have yet to pass, all while serving as an amazing tribute to the spirit of art and love that once existed in a decaying mansion. Neither happy nor sad, there is both joy and wistfullness in this work, and 400 Lonely Things have managed to put together quite a wonderous journey of an album. Less of a travelogue or soundscape, this is memory and inspiration squeezed onto vinyl and lifetimes of beauty allowed to play out over its nine tracks. Those seeking something engaging are well advised to check this out, and those looking for some soul-searching and inspiration are even moreso advised.