Review: M.O.O.N – Alicia Remixes

Having worked tirelessly self-release all of his back catalogue since 2011, M.O.O.N. aka Stephen Gilarde continues to impress with a remix EP titled, Alicia, a single that’s included on his recently released debut album Clinically Blasé.

Alicia is built around arpeggiating synths with a held bass line and strong clap, transforming into an alt-electro anthem. A female vocal, “light the way”, repeatedly loops at the drop before halting two minutes later allowing for the vocal to expand and the track to build again. It’s a heady progression with tight production and luscious synths.

The remixes come from an excellent trio of artists, The Juan Maclean, Sage Caswell and David Scott Stone. DFA Records affiliate, Juan, focuses in on the arpeggiating synth for a cosmic-felt revision. Sage Caswell (Far Away, LA) turns the original inside out, upping the tempo for a bristling house refix, adding percussion and FX aplenty. David Scott Stone reduces the pace with a minimal arrangement, adding a scuttling bass line as the centerpiece and tribal percussion flourishes on the transitions. All in all allowing the vocal space and create a hypnotising feel.

At only 22, Stephen’s hit the ground running, a successful video game composer with a production career already at six years deep. He’s self-released almost all of his material so far; three extended players, four singles and two remix EPs, recently releasing his long-awaited debut LP on LA-based Friends of Friends Music.

Grab a copy HERE.