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Criminal Moonlight

by Admirers

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about

A track rediscovered after four years on the shelf, Criminal Moonlight was the first and only song recorded with Mikey James and Anthony Molina (Mercury Rev) together in May of 2016. A two day session for the two musicians who were both at a crossroads at the time. James hired Molina to take the reins completely, and the sound is what one could envision a second Admirers LP may have been like. With Criminal Moonlight, James still plays the "starring role," so to speak, by singing the lead vocal, but he handed the "cinematography" and "set design" over to Anthony Molina.

With his references to heroics, villainy, evil, righteousness and attraction, James has crafted lyrics evocative enough to inspire a rich visual backdrop but open-ended enough to stand up to your imagination. Criminal Moonlight is a pop anthem about finding shelter in someone else's heart. Something that we can all relate to, no matter what storyline we take to get there.

James explains: "I wrote Criminal Moonlight a few nights after Bowie's passing, after a few friends and I watched his Serious Moonlight concert video. While driving home, (incidentally I remember passing a cemetery while it hit me) the main hook popped in my head, and I finished the song once I got home. The demo from that night sounded more fluid and post punk like a New Order thing. I named it after the concert and the song Criminal World from that same era.

Anthony goes way back with me. In fact he sang on my first demo ever, because he sounded like Brett Anderson from Suede, back in '96. When we got to studio to work, had a batch of 10 songs of mine to choose from. He chose this one. I think he liked the universality of the theme, and the vulnerability in my voice that I was delivering inherently.

While setting up I showed him a David Byrne Mixcloud session featuring music from Trinidad and Tobago. He grinned, and immediately went to his sequencer and within a half hour the basis for the tune was formed. I added my guitar and synth bits, and it really was tracked that day. It was a true collaboration."

lyrics

I still remember times you would walk away
You catch all the things I nearly say

I still need you honey
I still need you now
I still love you sugar
I still love you now

Like blurry vision you just wash away
You hope new moments dance, and jump, and play

I still hear you honey
I still feel it now
I still hold it sugar
I still need it now

Just as the fearing dawn
Brings on its rays
For the hero and the villain
The evil and the upright

Love can steal your heart away

Just as the tower walls
Were being raised
For the hero and the sinner
The simple and the birthright

Love can steal your heart away

From all the right
All the light
Goes running to outer space

For the hero and the villain
And the evil and the upright
For the hero and the sinner
The simple and the birthright

credits

released October 30, 2020
Produced, Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Anthony Molina at White Light Studio, Kingston.

Mikey James - Vocals, Electric Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer
Anthony Molina - Synthesizer, Programming
Bella Blasko - Backing Vocals
Jason Milton - Additional Engineering, Backing Vocals
Callan Saunders - Backing Vocals

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Admirers Rochester, New York

Art-damaged blend of dancefloor thump and dream pop.

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