Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set - And The Moon Looked On (Album)

As the final notes of “What Was Left” slowly slinked away in 2005, Clare Bowditch left behind a sad and beautiful celebration of grief and death. Two years later the longing sounds of the album still linger in the ears of many listeners, which makes the subject matter of Bowditch’s third album, “The Moon Looked On”, all the more surprising: a celebration of life and the pleasures of being alive such as love, lust, temptation, desire and the unexpected.

‘You Looked So Good’, a cheeky song about office lust, is most definitely an unexpected start to proceedings. To be expecting quiet introspection and acoustic folk from Bowditch, only to be presented with looping pedals, electric guitar and infectious beat is a pleasant surprise. Perhaps the best element of this song is its naughty lyrics: “By mid morning break time, you’re the biscuit and I am the tea” and, a personal favourite, “Did I hear correctly sir? Were you asking me to sit on you?” Phew! Is it just me, Clare, or are things a little warm in here?

As the alum progresses, it is no surprise that the usual Bowditch strengths still remain: tales of simple pleasures, thoughtful reflection, and a charming voice. One of the highlights of the album is ‘Peccadilloes’, a song through which Bowditch displays her ability to tell a story and bring characters to life. It is also a song that sweeps the listener up to great heights with its brooding cello and maintains the sensation of weightlessness momentarily through distinctive and atmospheric piano, before dropping the listener back again through a pillar of grandiose sounds. There is also the gorgeous simplicity of ‘Between the Tea and Toast’, a song about two busy people finding time in their lives to slow down and enjoy each other’s company. Listening to ‘I am Not Allowed’ is like opening a young girl’s music box and being enchanted by the ballerina slowly twirling in perfect formation. Bowditch’s voice floats elegantly over the sound of the box, which, when opened reveals temptation, secrets and unfulfilled desire.

Before recording this album, Bowditch and her partner / producer / engineer / mixer extraordinaire Marty Brown spent time in Vietnam immersed in its musical culture. This experience particularly shines on ‘When the Lights Went Down’. Some of the vocal scales that Bowditch sings the song are similar to vocals sung in traditional Vietnamese opera. Using this unusual delivery works well on this track and gives it an exciting and unique edge. The use of Vietnamese instruments is also notable on ‘That Wouldn’t Be So Good’ and ‘I Love the Way You Talk’. The later track is another highlight of the album. The combination of marching beat, Vietnamese zither and flowing guitar creates urgency, excitement and a sense of new experience; much like walking into the unknown, but still feeling safe because you are walking in stride with someone you trust: “I love the way you talk / it makes no sense at all / it’s like a bird song / this could be fun / this is gonna be fun”.

But arguably, “The Moon Looked On” is as much Bowditch’s album as it is Brown’s. Brown’s studio work truly helps bring this album to life and many of the results can only be discovered by listening to the album through headphones. Not all, however, as Brown approaches his task by attempting to create a movie soundtrack to accompany Bowditch’s rich tapestry of stories. In particular, the sounds of a cold and howling wind sweeping through on ‘Peccadilloes’, and the dark echoes encapsulating the listener on ‘Little Black Cave’ are genius.

Album closer, ‘People Like You, People Like Me’, is a wonderful track to finish off this strong album. With a finger picked classical guitar repeating over the haunting hum of a deep cello, Bowditch’s dreamy voice sings “God made people like me to love people like you”. Magic.

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