Paper Moon - The Lost Parade reviews

(source: Keuringsdienst van Waren May 2003) - read HERE in Dutch

Utrecht-based foursome Paper Moon managed to surprise many of us with the wonderful "Stella" e.p, which had four shiny pop gems on it that made you wonder why a) nobody had ever heard of Paper Moon, b) they had no label, and c) their name doesn't begin with a B, so they could have been added to the Beatles, Byrds, Big Star and Beach Boys-list. Those questions remained unanswered. Now there is a new e.p. with an equal amount of equally beautiful songs, once again produced by the Paulusma brothers (Daryll Ann). I do hope that the one thing that is different about this e.p. will be that they finally get the attention they deserve.
Opeing track Good Times is a very sunny pop tune that might cause even the sourest sourpuss to crack a smile.The voices of lead singers Hanz de Vries and André Wierenga merge wonderfully, the guitars jangle on and the rhythm section fills the gaps, but not too much, because everything is at the service of melody. The next two songs, Polaroid Girl and the Beatlesque ballad Leaving the Leaves are a lot less cheerful, but of a rare beauty. Escpecially Leaving the Leaves, which shows that the band have totally mastered the concept of arranging. However, closing track The Lost Parade is the potential hit. A Motown-like drive married to a melancholy melody, an irresistable chorus and upbeat horn arrangements: once you've heard it, it's impossible to get it out of your head. And that, I think, is still the essence of a perfect pop song. Any complaints, then? Well, yes. The songs deserve a slightly better production. It's far from dreadful, but a richar, warmer, fuller sound would've been nice. The sound of the snare drum, for example, is quite irritating: sounds like the drummer is hitting a tin can. It has no body at all. However, with songs like these, who's going to give a damn?

Paper Moon - Stella reviews

(source: Keuringsdienst van Waren April 2002) - read HERE in Dutch

Utrecht-based foursome Paper Moon have been inactive for a rather long while, but this new e.p. shows they've recovered beautifully, and there you have it: the first understatement of this review. Hopefully it's also the last one, because there shouldn't be any misunderstandings about Paper Moon. This band is in fact one of Holland's finest acts, especially when it comes to gracefully arranged harmony pop. Sure, we have Johan and Daryll Ann, two truly excellent bands, but they have received their fair share of credit and attention. In every respect, Paper Moon are easily as good as either of these bands and I sincerely hope this independent release will lead them to the proper record deal they deserve. Paper Moon has two singers / composers who both nonchalantly throw off one heavenly melody after another, who are both blessed with a pleasant voice, and who are complementary to each other in both singing and (guitar)playing. Sounds familiar? No, I won't write it down, but still....
However, we shouldn't neglect the rhythm section: thanks to them this sounds like a real band, and not like two songwriters and a backing band. The all but perfect three-part harmonies, the merging guitar parts, the adventurous basslines crawling underneath and especially the clever arrangements: not half bad, this. I wonder how important the role of producers Jelle and Coen Paulusma (of Daryll-Ann fame) has been, because soundwise “Stella” does remind me of Daryll-Ann's earlier work at times. I wouldn't go as far as to claim that Paper Moon has Excelsior written all over them. Although they certainly wouldn't seem out of place on that label, I'd hate for them to become Yet Another Guitar Act On Excelsior. Anyway, you get the point: Paper Moon is just too damn good to remain without a record deal. Come on, Music Biz. Do something about it.
info: www.papermoon.nu