Gilligan Moss’ ‘Speaking Across Time’ is an Album of the Year Contender

Gilligan Moss delivers genre-blending tunes rooted in a range of emotions on Speaking Across Time, out now via Foreign Family Collective/Ninja Tune.

Gilligan Moss is back with their second studio album, Speaking Across Time, on Foreign Family Collective/Ninja Tune and is a quick contender for album of the year status. The 12-track body of work from the Brooklyn-based duo effortlessly showcases their artistic ability with endearing accents of ’90s and ’00s samples, infectious dance-pop elements, and a coherent blend of genres. Speaking Across Time also strikes an emotional balance as Gilligan Moss seamlessly guides listeners through different chapters of life experiences.

Speaking Across Time begins with “Radio GilMo,” a warm and fuzzy introductory track that draws listeners into their sonic world. The duo wastes no time painting indie soundscapes with dreamy chords, lush arrangements, and crooning vocals, setting the tone for what’s to come on the rest of the album.

This easy-on-the-ear tune transitions into the pop-driven “Still Wonder,” featuring the incredibly talented Charlie Houston, whose airy vocals coincide beautifully with Gilligan Moss’ production prowess. And when self-doubt and other creeping thoughts try to invade the brain, “You’ve Made It” arrives as a reminder that what we have now is enough. We all need to take the time to reflect on where we are and focus on the positive.

Gilligan Moss’ ability to dip their toes in multiple genres and evoke various emotions is impressive. The genre-blending “Upstate Miracle” fuses country vocals with a melancholic indie beat that strikes every emotional chord. This represents what music can be and that there should be no strict rules about what can and cannot work. Meanwhile, “The Destroyer” showcases Gilligan Moss’ creativity in the studio by sampling and blending different eras of music to make something uniquely theirs. The nostalgia-inducing samples sit beautifully within the indie arrangement and immediately flash the listener back to a simpler time.

Continuing through the spectrum of emotions, “Love Song” is a bouncy, uplifting track that puts the listener in the mind of life’s most beautiful and complicated sentiment a human can feel: love. There is no better feeling than falling in love, and this tune properly represents that feeling. “Love Song” embodies those optimistic emotions with warm synth jabs and slick guitar riffs.

In contrast, “Waste of Time” is energetic and chaotic, communicating the opposite of what it’s like to fall in love. In life, every experience has a role to play in shaping our perception of the world. Some experiences, at the moment, can truly feel like a waste of time; however, in hindsight, clarity will ultimately reveal itself.

In classic Gilligan Moss fashion, the album comes to a heart-warming crescendo with “Turn Back Time” and “You Are the Greatest.” The former of the two has that special atmosphere that will fill you with immense joy from the first beat. Boasting an infectious dancey beat among nuanced echoes and warm samples, this tune has all the elements that made me fall in love with Gilligan Moss’ from their earliest releases. The final track, “You Are The Greatest,” is a culmination of effort, endless nights, experiences, and interactions with the world. It sends the listener into a blissful space with warm extended chords and infectious house drum patterns.

Speaking Across Time not only takes listeners on a journey through Gilligan Moss’ sonic evolution, but is also inspired by the music that shaped their artistic direction. Between the nostalgic samples, seamless blend of musical genres, and the staple indie vibes fans have come to know and love, there’s no doubt that this album will be at the top of many music lovers’ lists at the end of the year. I know it will be at the top of mine.

Gilligan Moss’ Speaking Across Time is now available on all platforms via Foreign Family Collective/Ninja Tune.

Stream Gilligan Moss – Speaking Across Time on Spotify:

Gilligan Moss – Speaking Across Time – Tracklist:

Radio GilMo

Still Wonder (feat. Charlie Houston)

You’ve Made It

Speaking Across Time

Upstate Miracle

Mystic Pebble

Love Song

The Destroyer

Only One

Waste of Time

Turn Back Time

You Are The Greatest

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