Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
April Moon’s roots continue to grow and flourish, and in the duo’s latest recording, Forgiveness Juice, the scale of their imagination and undaunted vibe is once more to be seen by the listener as overwhelming and persistent gracious spirit.
Following on from the impressive The Other One Was You, Jaime April and Jason Moon took advantage of the aligned stars and the drama free experience of inhabiting two Liverpool studios to bring to the public another sense of guitar-driven irresistibility, influences of ear-catching pleasure fill the air, and as the Forgiveness Juice E.P. washes over the listener, the sound of a soul being refreshed can be heard raising merriment and pushing the pair further into a realm that has just as big a wide open appreciation for beauty as much as the Saskatchewan skies.
The generosity of the pair has never been in question, and that they were willing to put faith in the songs as stand-alone singles over the course of the last few months stands as a testament to the conviction they had in the ‘Canadiana’ they have come to be part of, that Americana may be the foundation of the sound but it is in the northern parts of the America’s that the sincerity can be felt more keenly to this overarching genre.
The six strong E.P., filled with songs that act as musical body language, as a reminder, an honouring of friendship, especially in the recognition of Liverpool poet Edmund Hudson whose lyrics culminate and place distinction in the track of Echoville are stirring and fuel for the muscles. From the opener of Long May We Roam with its inevitable feel of the journey undertaken, Part Of The Game, Uptown Lady Life, Second Guess, the sublime cover of the Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way, and the aforementioned song Echoville, the heartfelt and quirky music is as established as the panoramic, endless serenity that is the Canadian prairie.
Forgiveness Juice quenches the thirst of the fans who just cannot get enough of the charismatic pair; humble in their glow, passionate in their craft, April Moon have once again scored highly.
Ian D. Hall