A resonant new track from Brooklyn / Lancaster (UK)-based artist Luke Benjamin’s project Kodak Kid, “Half Moon” struts a dub-friendly surf-rock appeal, drawing inspiration from both a painful breakup and the solace of ’60s pop icons like The Beach Boys and The Ronettes. Surf-revival, dub, and jazz converge with stylish appeal throughout.
A trickling, hypnotic haze of guitars quickly expands to a surf-y, twangy vigor, moving into a bass-forward prowess with glistening guitar allure as Benjamin’s dynamic voice emerges. Initially debonair verses drive into a soaring passion as he sings, “it should have been you, under the half moon.” Twinkling piano enters the ensuing verses with breezy seamlessness, while responsive backing harmonies add a lovely reflectiveness, all capped off by a late-night saxophone flourish. “Half Moon” is a hooky, excellently produced standout of a track from Kodak Kid.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
