moonlit race
Last year, I proclaimed The Brother Kite's Waiting for the Time to be Right one of the best records of the year, and I have to say that the record still strikes me in the same magical way it did when I first heard it. So I recommend it as highly as I did back then. The band's latest release, Moonlight Race, is ostensibly a single for the album song "Get On, Me." It's definitely a wonderful choice for a single; it's a medium-paced rocker with a slightly spaced-out vibe that is the perfect song for cruising down the interstate.

The B-sides, though, are a different story. Two of them are different versions of album tracks, one is a live version, and two are unreleased. "Hopeless and Unsung" is an acoustic ballad version, and though it's pleasant, it doesn't really compare to the full band version. "Unearthed/Digging In The Dirt" is a brief instrumental--very dark and ominous. "Half Century," another unreleased number, is jaunty and fast-paced; it's rougher than Waiting, but it's every bit as catchy as that record. It reminds me of early Weezer. "Never in Years" is a live recording from a radio broadcast, and captures the band without the studio sheen. It also reveals that the band is more than studio polish and obsessively produced songs.

Moonlight Race's real reward is the final song, "Waiting for the Time To Be Right." On the album, it's sonically similar to "Get On, Me," but the version here removes most of the instrumental accompaniment, leaving only harmonies, harmonium, and a beautifully plucked bass. In so doing, this song reveals just how indebted to Pet Sounds their music is. It's a wonderful song, but it also makes me thankful that the band didn't overwhelm Waiting with arrangements like this; after all, do we really need another Beach Boys rehash?

reviewed by: joseph kyle for press play and record

NO SUCK: The Brother Kite has released a new EP, Moonlit Race... and if you've paid any attention to my TBK rantings over the past year-plus, you know that it's already on steady rotation in both my car and on my iTunes. Only two of the songs are new - including the wonderfully hummable Half Century - but the live and alternate versions that constitute the rest of the CDEP are just as gorgeous and fascinating as anything they've ever produced. I've said it before and I'll say it again: you need to make The Brother Kite a part of your life. Please trust me on this.

reviewed by: twobusy

This Florida band’s last record WAITING FOR THE TIME TO BE RIGHT, knocked my socks off. It was a near-perfect mix of the swirl of shoegaze and Beach Boys hooks n’ harmonies. Well, here is one of the best songs from that record (“Get On, Me”) and 5 others plus 3 videos. The 2nd tune is the gently tugging (alt. version) of “Hopeless and Unsung” , the interlude “Unearthed/Digging in the Dirt”, the insanely catchy “Half Century”, then a few live songs from a local radio station (was that sleighbells I heard???!!). To be truthful, this is worth the price of admission alone for “Get On, Me” but you already have that cos’ I know you DAGGER readers are smart enough to own their full-length , ok …so this is worth the price of admission for the amazing “Half Century.” You go buy this and I’m going to sit back and watch those videos.

reviewed by: dagger

This being my debut review for Heathen harvest I would love to say hello to everyone and that I’m proud to be a part of this webzine.

I would like to begin this review by saying that I am an absolute stickler for beautiful Hazy Shoegaze and Dream Pop, and usually become a die hard fanatic of every band I find in this category. I seriously cannot get enough of this bubbly, overly happy yet lonely and melancholic atmospheric music. When I popped this disc into my computer the beautiful chorusy reverb drenched guitars that I have grown to love filled my room and the feeling of being in love suddenly entered into my soul and I realized once again why I adore this genre so much.

The Brother Kite are housed on the absolutely wonderful Clairecords label. Home of many great acts such as The Daysleepers, Pia Fraus, and Secret Shine. This label has always released the most high quality in Shoegaze, Ambient, and Dream Pop, and The brother kite is no exception. Their sound is not too far removed from many of their label mates, the thing that sets them apart is more of an uptempo indie rock sound combined with the atmospherics of shoegaze and classic dream pop bands like the Cocteaus or later Chameleons.

The EP starts off with the energetic and fast paced Get On, Me, the kind of track to listen to before work that could put anyone in a good mood. This track goes through many changes as it blasts away even making time for the old guitar solo before fading into a sorrowful acoustic number which is the only effect free track of the album. Just when you think you have this band figured out they throw an odd dissonant ambient track at you which warms you with its darkness and brings to mind images of the moon shining down on you as you lay in the grass of a darkened field. According to bands site this track was composed for a Zombie film one of the band members was working on, and I think that it does convey that type of feel perfectly with the strange pulsating bass as the zombie tears through the earth and rises to walk amongst the living once more under the glowing moon. I think I will stick to my moon over the field atmosphere though, it is much more calming.

Just when you are getting sucked into the beautiful darkness “Half Century” comes buzzing along with its carefree spring chords that do the “Moonlit Race” title justice, actually conveying the feeling of racing through the desert under a bright moon next to your love in a nice convertible as your hair blows in the summer breeze. This track is my absolute favorite and I would definitely consider it the masterpiece of this release. The next track is a live radio performance of “Never in years” which is easily the most atmospheric track on the album, drenched in reverb complete with keyboard choirs and soft bell percussion. I was extremely impressed with how thick the band sounded live considering how hard of a feat it is to recreate your sound when you are stripped away of studio freedom. I would even say that the band sounds fuller on this live track than they do on the studio tracks. The ending of this track is just plain gorgeous with the short heavenly choir line.

The EP concludes with “Waiting For The Time To Be Right” which is an alternate mix, even though I have yet to hear the original I am guessing that this is a more stripped down vocal heavy version of the song. This is actually the most complete sounding track on the EP featuring complex vocal harmonies and a fair amount of chord changes that are quite tasteful and if I do say so myself. This song could almost pass as an ambient take of a 50’s styled love song at some points. There is even a weird reed like instrument towards the conclusion of the track. This track is definitely the “Composition” piece of the album and is the perfect way to end this excellent release.

Out of all the goodness of this album there is one gripe that I have and that would defiantly be the vocals. They are very straightforward compared to the rest of the arrangements and are rather immature sounding to be quite honest, bringing to mind stereotypical Indie rock bands that you could find on the Myspace front page. If this band had a more creative and mature sounding vocalist they could be 10000 times better than they already are. Instead the vocals don’t really complement the music, they are just there and get the job done, but obviously this didn’t affect my enjoyment of the material or I wouldn’t have wrote all this. The music and performances are so beautiful and so great that you can let the mediocre vocal performance slide by and enjoy the lovely atmosphere.

I just have to accept the fact that every band can’t have a Liz Fraser to set things straight. All in all this a great EP and The Brother Kite are a great band, I highly recommend this to all fans of Shoegaze and Dream Pop, you will find a lot to love here. I will definitely consider checking out their full lengths.

reviewed by: heinmiller for heathen harvest