Forest
Moon is the result of Arthur's once-off collaboration
with South African producer, percussionist and lyricist
Greg Gordon. The album was recorded in Gordon's state-of-the-art
home studio, over a period of almost 2 years.
Forest
Moon's debut album is the musical equivalent of a
hammock, strung between two of the trees in the forest
that surrounds the duo's small high-tech studio in
Franschhoek where this chilled, nu-folk collection
was recorded. 'Forest Moon' is an unassuming and gentle
slice of melodic acoustic tunes with scattered rock
and world influences, all embellished with soft vocals
and harmonies and lush but not overdone string and
vocal harmony arrangements. The duo met by chance when Belgian singer-songwriter
Jerome Arthur knocked on producer-musician Greg Gordon's
door looking for some cables. Arthur began his career
with Belgian rock acts Hindu Nail and Cunzi while
Greg Gordon grew up in Johannesburg and began drumming
with bands and doing some home recordings at 16. During
the '80's, Dave Matthews (yeah, that one with the
'Band') lived with the Gordon family and Greg collaborated
with Matthews until the future US mega-star left SA
in 1986. This album, which was carefully assembled
over a two-year period, is mostly a quiet and calming
musical ride through songs like 'This Love', 'Stay'
and 'Just Like You Said', with the exception of the
more pop-focused first single, 'Dinosaur', with its
lazy, grungy '60's chorus. Right now (if Mojo magazine is at all interested),
'Forest Moon' is my favourite Sunday morning album - Stephen Segerman, SA Rockdigest, January 2003 |