I’ve heard a lot of buzz about Goo Munday recently and decided to check out her debut full length album “9 Lives”. Goo Munday, an Australian act from Sydney, described as an eclectic mixture of electronic, dance, darkwave and minimal wave, their sound has been compared to Alice Glass’s Crystal Castles era and the Witchhouse genre, and I agree. While I hear a similarity between her and Alice’s music, Goo’s music still sounds distinctly different, and in a way more controlled. Unsurprisingly, Goo has gone on record claiming Crystal Castles as one of her favorite bands.
Hey looks like Goo knows some cool people!
Pictured: Goo with Joel Nino of Twin Tribes
Image source: Facebook
The moment I pressed play I was met with the pulsing “Start a Fire.” The music’s energy is pretty consistent only slowing down a little for “Anti-Life” and “So Cold” leading up to the album’s title song “9 Lives” which immediately launches into a hypnotic Witchhouse-y pounding beat with heavily understated looping vocals. The song is definitely a banger.
After “9 Lives” I was lulled into a heavily atmospheric piece eerily titled “The Waiting Room.” The song has dark, foreboding chords in it with echoing distorted electronic choruses. In listening to this with the title in mind I am reminded of The Red Room in Twin Peaks also known as “The Waiting Room.” I am uncertain if this is a reference but the song stayed with me. (9 Lives was inspired Goo’s neighbors who seemed to hate any and all youthful impulsiveness, as per an instagram post.)
The music picks up again with “The Game” again pounding with energy until Rebirth feat. Sidewalks and Skeletons. A finely named outro for an album themed around the 9 lives of a cat. The music is much more sedate and contemplative leaving you feel as though a journey has ended as the song reaches completion…
Who doesn’t love a spooky cemetery?
Image source: Facebook
This album feels very personal in a way that not many albums can nowadays; it has the thumbprint of its artist in the music, the titles, and the arrangement of the album. It’s an album that needs a multiple listens as there’s a cryptic story written in feeling. Frustration and acceptance seem to be strong themes in it as well as perhaps second chances? Either way, Goo has caught me by the ear and I will be eagerly awaiting whatever she has next for us.
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