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Sonnymoon: The Sunnier Side Of Mortality
Sonnymoon: The Sunnier Side Of Mortality Sonnymoon.
In Sonnymoon's "Just Before Dawn," Anna Wise's ethereal vocals float across a palpitating soundscape. "Every night, you should have someone to hold," Wise sings, "to tell you that you did okay when your mind is against you." by John Murph Singing about one's imminent death requires a certain level of delicacy, because it's way too easy to dive into melodramatic gloom. But Sonnymoon's "Just Before Dawn" ? in which Anna Wise's ethereal vocals float across Dane Orr's palpitating soundscape as she contemplates mortality ? takes on a more hopeful, universal tone. "Every night, you should have someone to hold," Wise sings, "to tell you that you did okay when your mind is against you."

After a moment of silence midway through the song, the sparse ambience blossoms into a beautiful, electronically enhanced string arrangement. Along the way, it's marked by sustained Middle Eastern-flavored harmonies and a haunting melody, courtesy of Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and harpist Rebekah Raff, who give the song a sense of glowing perpetuation. Who needs grim finality?

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Tuesday's Pick

Song: "Just Before Dawn"

Artist: Sonnymoon

Album: Sonnymoon

Genre: Jazz

© Copyright 2013, NPR