released: 9th may, 2025

genre: rock / experimental

from: london, uk

label: ad 93

a few thoughts: in the space of a year, moin have become one of my favourite bands making music today. the london-based trio, consisting of joe andrews, tom halstead, and long time collaborator and percussionist visionary valentina magaletti they’ve released some fantastic albums over the years, with an eclectic sound that mixes abrasive, percussion-led instrumentation with more melodic moments as well. belly up ep is their new 6-track project, a lively, colourful and at times disorienting body of work. it kicks off with eclectic jazzy compositions on tracks such as “see” featuring sophia al-maria and ben vince, and “i’m really flagging (or i trusted u) featuring ben vince. the saxophone-led composition on both tracks is phenomenal, while the intense drumming throughout the latter track, as well as the ocassional vocal samples throughout, make for an engaging listen. the drumming on “you leave me breathless” is hypnotic, while “x.u.y.” is an infectious track. there’s something about their ability to combine vocal loops with slick guitar lines that just sounds so good to me, something they’ve mastered with each and every release. the drumming on “i don’t know where to look” is incredible too, as the subtle synth leads gives this track an eerie energy. “the day” closes the album out with muffled vocals, loud guitar leads and subtle synth melody that, again, gives this unsettling, dark tone to it. moin’s music is hypnotic, and belly up ep is a continuation of their incredible sound and a testament to their continued artistic evolution.

the album: