(September 2017 "FROM THE ARCHIVE") - "The Moon" Original Mix

"The Moon" is the oldest song we've ever put on a record. In fact, you could call it the first Tea Club song and be kind of correct. I say kind of correct because "Ice Clock" was the first song the band ever wrote together under The Tea Club banner. But "The Moon predates "Ice Clock" by almost a year. It was originally called "Truffles and Tragedy" and was written for a band called Book of Thoughts which was the band Dan and I were in right before The Tea Club. It was the only song to survive the change and remains one of my personal favorites. I have a vivid memory of being about 18 (which would make Dan about 15) and working late into the night on this song playing an acoustic guitar and Dan playing a VERY primitive keyboard. I remember the outpouring of creativity and ideas and the excitement of using the keyboard for one of the first times in a Tea Club song. 

Lyrically the song is quite romantic and tells a fantastical and somewhat biographical story of a particular autumn in the lives of the McGowan brothers. It seemed fitting to share this song in September as the leaves begin to turn and the air gets richer and, soon enough, those leafless tree branches will begin to look like black knives.

This version of "The Moon" is the original first mix for GWSM. The keyboards are more prominent throughout particularly in the intro as well as in the ending. You'll notice that Dan's guitar solo is missing at the end. It actually got lost during mixing and the hole it left led to a majestic and elaborate orchestral arrangement. The guitar solo made it's way back in to the final version and was integrated in with the original orchestral arrangement. You'll also notice a more prominent flute passage in the intro which didn't make the final cut. It has long since been a hope of ours to make this version available as it possesses a quality and beauty which is unique among the band's subsequent output. In fact, I remember when Tim Gilles (the record's producer) heard it for the first time. By the end of the song he had a big smile and something like a twinkle in his eye as he said "I haven't heard a song like that in a very long time."

Put some headphones on for this one, or maybe some earbuds, and go for a walk. Wait till it's cool enough outside to need a sweatshirt and late enough in the day to where the sun gives everything that ancient and dreadful glimmer. If you're like me and love the fall you might find yourself singing along with me and Dan especially when we get to the line: "This autumn to me had no end in sight."

Enjoy!

-Pat

This recording of “The Moon” was performed by:

Patrick McGowan - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Bass

Dan McGowan - Guitar, Vocal Harmonies

Kyle Minnick - Drums