The keen reader will be plenty familiar with Monroe Moon, since this is not the first time we welcome them on Mesmerized. We are happy to see them back with a stunning new record, ‘Smoked a Cigarette Instead’. It’s immensely good, in what it seems to be a step up for the American-English duo. Championing their usual melodic pop-rock stylings, partly eclectic and drenched in 90s references, Monroe Moon are able to share another slice of blissful dreaminess, soothing and sharp and the same time.
That’s how ‘Smoked a Cigarette Instead’ feels like: a continuous journey into shoegaze and dream pop stylings, with the addition of grace rock and post-punk fierceness. We are in love with the chorus, where singer and frontwoman Bunny Monroe engages in Cocteau Twin-Esque bright, long notes, delivered with charisma and panache. Theo Malkin’s rich guitar tone wraps the song into a crunchy yet delicate goo – irresistible.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the song’s lyricism, they explain: “Sometimes the best part of a romance is before it even begins.” That’s because imagination is harmless, unlike the real deal…
Recommended! Discover ‘Smoked a Cigarette Instead’ on Spotify: