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The simplest approach can be the bravest. For instance, making an album with only two ingredients: voice and piano. For it to work, the musicianship needs to be masterful, the songwriting elevated, the singing effortless, and the delivery earnest without veering into cheesy.
On his third LP as Moonface, Spencer Krug, formerly of Sunset Rubdown and Wolf Parade, achieves this. A far cry from the piano-tinkling heard in formulaic modern pop, Krug’s ivories are often filmic (Barbarian), or musical-theatre enough to evoke Hugh Jackman or Julie Andrews singing amidst a mountainscape (November 2011).
Modern lyrics overlay the 10 classical tracks full of arpeggios, trills and sweeping key changes. It’s an album of love songs in major keys, where Krug’s musical direction seems to have been con fuoco (with fire), con spirito (with spirit) and always, always, affettuoso (with feeling). Where can we buy the sheet music?
Top track: Your Chariot Awaits
