In the Fall of 2019, First Boy On The Moon set out on a journey to create catchy songs and perform live shows around Malmö, Sweden. Fronted by singer-songwriter David Pedroza, this quartet is inspired by 80s alternative music and continues to explore the different sides of Rock with cerebral lyrics, kick-in-the-guts guitars, bass, and drums and I thoroughly enjoyed their first offering when David got in touch to say that ‘Cybergirl’ was in the bag I was looking forward to hearing what the band would come up with next.

The moment the needle dropped on ‘Dreamer’ I felt a smile crawling over my face and as my head nodded to the rhythm my foot was compelled to join in this wave of happiness as the uptempo modern alternative rock was pounding through my speakers. The production is unfussy and lets the music breathe, be it through headphones or speakers. This is excellent. Like a fusion of the Manics meeting the guts of early Suade as a starting point but to be fair there’s a healthy Bolan swagger going on and more of that 70s glam is infused into the DNA of Pedroza’s songwriting with small parts or just the attitude and delivery it’s all in here.

‘Hot Fun In The City’ is more of a groove and a more relaxed pace but it’s a wonderful slice of guitar-driven pop again the feeling that this is unfussy and that punchy Bassline can have room to be heard is something loads of bands miss. ‘Room Full Of Junk’ stalks in the shadows ushering some new wave tones to proceedings a louder guitar-based Teardrop Explodes with that post-punk feel.

When Iggy did ‘Bla Bla Bla’ he still had guts but wanted a more accessible style and ‘High On The Beast’ comes from the same place. The first side ends on the more dreamy ‘Afterlife’ with acoustic guitars and drum toms and the use of an Ebow for added atmosphere. Influenced no doubt by 80s Bowie, Pop, and Reid which is a fine place to draw inspiration from as anywhere as well as touching on the style of the Furs or Bunnymen it’s in that guitar-based ballpark.

Side two begins with the upbeat ‘Taste The Rainbow’ followed by the gritty title track. ‘I’m Alive’ and ‘Eyes On You’ are more proof that First Boy On The Moon are onto something. The album closes with the handclapping atmospheric ‘Generation Suicide’.

This record sounds fantastic, the songs are really good and a varied but a very enjoyable listen it is too and I still can’t help but feel good listening to these songs. In these uncertain times, it’s always good to have some sunshine and First Boy On The Moon delivers that in spades. Something steeped in the good old days but feeling brand new. Hit ’em up on Bandcamp or Facebook and crank it up.

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Author: Dom Daley