Moon Landing!

"Moon Landing!" by The Otals is a bold track that fuses elements of shoegaze and electropop-genres that have deeply influenced the band-into a euphoric blend of tropical synthesizers and a saturated soundscape. While the sound may be considered something of a standard for a group shaped by the 2010s newgaze movement, the track's unique arrangement-where physical, almost visceral rhythms and vocals coexist with digital synths and heavily effected choruses-creates a marbled texture that resists being categorized as purely dance or alternative. Despite its poppy, blissful sonic surface, the lyrics weave a boy-meets-girl narrative laced with recurring motifs of death and oblivion, scattered like mosaic tiles throughout the song. The result is a curious dance-rock piece that leaves a lingering sense of loss in its bittersweet ending.