Arda & the Stolen Moon - Outsider in Perpetual Motion
Arda & the Stolen Moon is the name of the music project of Arda from Cyprus. Through Arda & the Stolen Moon, Arda is able to create expressive music with her band and share it with the world. An intelligent and oldschool type of songwriter, Arda brings a certain refreshing authenticity to her music, something often lost with today’s radio friendly hits. Today we are pleased to share our advance review of Arda & the Stolen Moon’s new album, Outsider in Perpetual Motion, which is due for release on May 28, 2021.
Outsider in Perpetual Motion kicks off with the nearly five-minute track “Emotional Hacking” and we are immediately introduced to Arda’s honest and well-expressed lyrics. Tackling some contemporary internet culture topics, Arda shares that her emotions cannot be shared by things like emojis and how she does not quite fit in with current trends. “Emotional Hacking” is also very catchy and has a very memorable bridge, really starting the album off well. “The Duke of Icicle” follows and the track features Stefanos Georgiades. This song features verses that remind me of 60’s music but a chorus that resonates with 80’s style vibes; this combination makes for a very enjoyable throwback sound. Georgiades contributes vocals during the chorus which stands as yet another solid melodic piece on Outsider in Perpetual Motion. Third on the album is “Signals”, which features Sarah Fenwick and Nama. “Signals” has a singer/songwriter and coffee shop kind of energy to it, filled with genuine emotions and an intentionally subdued approach. These first three songs introduce us to many of the styles Arda incorporates into her music and together draw you in.
“Twenty63” is the fourth song and immediately we are treated some nice brass vibes that remain prevalent throughout the song, a refreshing taste of professional instrumentation. From there, Arda takes us on her imaginative journey to the year 2063, giving us a glimpse at what she thinks the future could be like; like many, she has a pessimistic view, speaking on subjects like automation and the desire to return to a simpler time. “Wishing” follows, showcasing an ethereal kind of energy that builds into something special once it hits the latter third or so of the song. “The Pebble In My Shoe” is the sixth song on the album and it transitions seamlessly from “Wishing”. This track seems to have some strong art-pop influences and their is this certain majestic kind of nature in it that you just have to experience for yourself. Throughout these middle three tracks, Arda’s raw genuine nature is on display, though there is nothing aesthetically raw about these three songs; this contrast really makes the middle portion of the album special and deeply enjoyable.
In the seventh slot on Outsider in Perpetual Motion is “Upset The Apple Cart". This track has a kind of mystique built into its nature and it is definitely one of the most interesting tracks on the album. A lightly reverbed guitar lick serves as a very powerful hook and is super catchy. Arda’s lyrics are, again, very real and grounded in her reality and this tune even features a unique spoken word portion. “Monkeys” follows and this one is perhaps my favorite on the album. It starts off with acoustic guitar and some light but bouncy percussion and that then builds into something even greater in the chorus. The way in which the production balances multiple aspects of the song really help it shine as a truly stellar track. Outsider in Perpetual Motion closes with “Fools & A Molina Moon” which is a wonderful closing track. There is a certain finality presented in this track that makes it an excellent album closer and the pure guitar rippage during the solo work stands out as both a great crescendo and one of the album’s highest moments.
Something that stood out to me across the entire album was the production work; throughout Outsider in Perpetual Motion, Arda traverses a vast canvas of soundscapes and the excellent production across these mixtures of genres, genres and vibes is seamless, thanks in large part to the production nailing whatever Arda was going for in a particular song. Arda’s words and the supporting instrumentals are capable of igniting passion and the allure presented in her music is untenable. Socrates "The Doctor" Leptos provided the bass and guitar work on this album and his work is absolutely phenomenal, providing some of the album’s best hooks. Session drummer Stefanos Meletiou’s percussion work was also on-point, truly accompanying the many genre-fusing moving parts extremely well.
Arda & the Stolen Moon is a project worth checking out, and if Outsider in Perpetual Motion will be your first experience with Arda’s music as it was mine, I can assure you that you are in for a real treat, full of throwback vibes and honest lyrics. Arda’s songwriting is exceptional and her artistry is certainly notable. You can keep up with Arda & the Stolen Moon through Facebook, Bandcamp and their website. Be sure to check out “Emotional Hacking” and “Signals” which we have embedded throughout this article via YouTube and keep an eye out for the entirety of Outsider in Perpetual Motion which is due for release on May 28th!
