LUNA & The Gents – “Honey”

LUNA & The Gents – “Honey” – Single Review

Alllllllllllllllllright.  I’m gonna let this through.

Don’t get me wrong, I did attempt to resist that conclusion.  Those that know me well, would tell ya that I always struggle with the idea of going backwards no matter what it comes to in life, but especially in the art of making music.  I’m the guy that endlessly encourages you to break new ground, to do new things, to find ways to do something that’s never been done before…but I recognize that that’s not often the case when it comes to the reality of what we all listen to.  I mean, it’s tough when there are only twelve notes in all of music, right?  Or seven natural notes if you want to be more technical and brutal about it.  You get the idea though – originality is harder than hard, and it’s not always the goal to begin with.  Sometimes you want to revisit a sound or style you grew up loving yourself.  Sometimes an artist or band might value creating sonic nostalgia more than trying to revolutionize the industry.  There are many reasons as to why you’d want to borrow from the past to create in the present, and don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that’s not a valid way to make music.  I’m simply stating for the record once again that I usually prefer hearing fresh ideas than something that’ll remind me of something else I’ve heard…but I’m human too, and familiarity is well-known to be a key ingredient in many great songs.

In the case of “Honey” by LUNA & The Gents, there’s a solid chance it will remind you of a TON of tunes.  Whether it’s the surf-rock side of its sound, or the sweeter side of its melody, they’ve got a song & video that draws heavily on a nostalgia inducing vibe…which is completely what gets to the heart of its charm.  As I’ve said before in the past, we’re bound to hear similar songs just like we can’t help but write similar stories or paint painting with the same colors etc. etc. – there’s never any shame in doing what’s been done as long as you’re doin’ it well, at least as far as I’m concerned.  Heck, there’s even a progression in the chorus hooks of “Honey” that might remind you of Bowie’s “Modern Love” for a moment or two if you put your ears to your speakers just right.  For the most part though, LUNA & The Gents reach back even further towards the dawn of Rock ‘N’ Roll & the golden era of the 50s/60s sound to create their latest single, and I think it’d be hard to argue that it sounds anything other than excellent.  Singer Evelyne Péquignot sounds remarkable…she’s focused, confident, and charismatic in the center of the spotlight, and she brings a ton of character and personality to the microphone for “Honey.”  As for the musicianship surrounding her, this band is built with bulletproof players – and you’ll get a clear dose of what they’re capable of in the finale of this single with all the solos and instrumentation goin’ on.  For instance, guitarist Matthias van Stipriaan lights it UP throughout this song, and Yves de Groot deserves a serious shout-out of his own for all the awesomeness he brings to the Hammond/Wurlitzer.  The rhythm section holds its own steadily, which I think many folks will appreciate.  Not every player has to spice things up all the time when you’re in a band or recording a song…sometimes stability is what you’re aiming for, even if it might leave you craving a bit more creativity at times.  Case in-point, I’m sure that bassist Rainer Schudel could play “Honey” in his sleep when it comes right down to it…I doubt that it’s a very challenging part for him this time around, but he plays it with a convincing level of feel, which is kind of precisely what you’d want to find as the backbone of the rhythm section anyway.  The drums of Andy Lang are very similar with respect to that assessment…he’s not recreating the wheel, he’s just doing his part to help the band take this whole sound for a really damn smooth ride.  Evelyne is true spark that generates the universal appeal in a song like “Honey,” and I’d say it’s definitely the best I’ve heard her sound to-date.  While I could probably take or leave the verses in terms of what personally appeals to me, I’d readily acknowledge that she sings them with a sincerely impressive level of showmanship that reveals her gift to entertain the listening audience.  It’s the chorus that highlights her gift for creating hooks that connect, and with the backing vocals of Petra Vogel and Manuel Kaufmann lending an assist, the harmonies all come beaming through your speakers.  “Honey” is designed for good times, and I would only imagine that that’s the impression it’ll leave on the majority of us listening in.

So…the verdict is positive.  I feel like LUNA & The Gents pretty much nailed the throwback sound they were looking to create, and in the process they highlighted how relevant a style like this continues to be to this very day.  The real bottom line is that, while YES they’ve reached back in time to borrow a little something from here and a little something from there, they play this song like they own it and proudly lean into their influences to create something new from them that’ll keep you fully entertained.  They didn’t shy away from the moment, they rose to the occasion.  They sound cohesive as a unit and they play like they possess an unbreakable bond between them…it’s really quite something.  As they shift from one part to the next throughout “Honey,” they show no cracks whatsoever in their seamless professionalism.  Part of that is also derived from the familiarity of the sound at the heart of this song, I’m sure it makes it all feel a lot more natural to play and sing…but at the end of the day, I don’t think it matters one iota to the people tuning in how they come by the sound at all if they play it as well as they do, you know what I mean?  LUNA & The Gents display a sincere love for the classics and respect for the roots of Rock with “Honey” – their vibrant sound and upbeat energy are fully destined to win you over.

Find out more about LUNA & The Gents from their official website at:  https://lunaandthegents.ch

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