Let's step back into 1989 and celebrate its 30th anniversary, a year that served as both the culmination of the '80s decade and a precursor to the changes that would define the '90s. It's renowned as a year of revolutions, witnessing sweeping changes in Eastern Bloc countries in Europe, and a year of technological innovations with the introduction of the first commercial internet services.
Musically, the charts were still under the influence of Stock-Aitken-Waterman hits, which also welcomed Donna Summer into their hits factory. However, the latter part of 1989 saw the emergence of new sounds. House music, spearheaded by acts like Inner City and S'Express, gained prominence, while Italo disco evolved into the Euro dance genre. While 1989 may be chronologically associated with the '80s, it undeniably encapsulated the spirit of the impending '90s, with music styles that would reach their peaks in the following decade and beyond.
Pale Moon is an Icelandic/Russian Psychedelic group which consists of Natalia Sushchenko and Árni Guðjónsson who met in Barcelona and decided to start making music together. Their music was primarily inspired by the Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac and the Shins and delivers captivating melodies and lush Neo-Psych textures in the vein of the 70’s sound. Both Natalia and Arni were having a musical experience prior to forming Pale Moon and Arni already has had a great track record with music which is most notable for his work with “Of Monsters and Men”. Natalia on the other hand decided to take road with design.
This month they released their debut EP titled ‘Dust of Days’ with three songs. Each song tickles different themes and even musical genres, the unique voice of Pale Moon glues together into familiar yet fresh sound. Both Arni and Natalia are providing vocals in their songs where Arni masters the instrumentation and musical arrangement. You can preview their music on Spotify now.
The British synth pop legends Heaven 17 have announced the release of 'Play To Win: The Virgin Years', a brand new 10 CD compilation deluxe set which will feature all five albums issued in the 1980s, along with over 100 bonus tracks, including demos, B-sides, non-album singles and remixes. It will also be released as a 5LP coloured vinyl box set called Play To Win: The Virgin Albums. Both the CD and vinyl variants of Play To Win will be released on 29 March 2019 via Edsel and Demon Records respectively.