EP Review: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Blue Moon Rising
Since the release of his last LP ‘Who Built the Moon?’ – Noel Gallagher has been on something of a creative rollercoaster. Although moments of experimentation were peppered throughout his work with Oasis, Noel seems finally able to push the boundaries as a (pretty much) solo artist in a way he didn’t seem comfortable doing as part of the band. While some fans have scorned Noel’s attempts at experimentation, this run of recent EPs has undoubtedly been his most engaging and exciting work in years.
Which brings us to ‘Blue Moon Rising’ – a project that attempts to redress the balance between the old and new. The title track definitely falls into the ‘new Noel’ camp and is easily the most interesting and captivating track on the EP. The thudding bassline is reminiscent of ‘This Is The Place’ from his previous EP, while his vocals soar as the track evolves. The ‘Reflex Revision’ at the end of the project is a nice addition, but doesn’t add that much to the existing track.
Listening to ‘Wandering Star’ in March feels a little strange as it’s so Christmassy, especially with the even more Yuletide video featuring Stephen Graham. That said – few songwriters can match Noel’s melancholy, with the festive spirit simply adding to the feeling of introspection.
The most anticipated track on this EP - ‘Come On Outside’ - is by far the dullest. Partially due to the mythology of being an unreleased Oasis track, it has been hyped as if it’s the next Champagne Supernova. It’s not. It’s absolutely fine - a decent addition to this EP. It’s difficult to tell whether the track was included to appease Oasis die-hards, annoy Liam or simply because he likes the track. I guess it could be all three.
Regardless – it doesn’t take away from this EP again showcasing Noel’s evolution as a songwriter. If these experimental moments of brilliance are going to be the foundation of his next album, then we could be in for something special. ‘Blue Moon Rising’ isn’t the most electrifying of his recent releases, but it’s a welcome addition in Noel Gallagher’s creative rebirth.