A Wistful Soliloquy on Living and Dying
The Hollow Moon
Self-described as a transatlantic partnership between two musicians who have never actually met:
Darren Selesnow: electric, acoustic, bass guitar, keyboards, composition
Jon Farley: vocals, drums, keyboards, guitar, composition
Tracklist
- Falling Away
- King of Yesterday
- Everything in Balance
- Don’t Forget Me
- Homeland
- In the Moment
- The Last Emperor: Prisoner; Dragonfly; Exile; The Setting Sun
- Afterlife
- The Hollow Moon
Released November 28, 2018
The Music
Pristine, pure neo-progressive music, awash in keyboards, no rough edges, guitars taking lead lines as melody enhancement, wistful, dreamy moods, edgy and sometimes softer-edged bass guitar, drums well back in the mix.
Nothing too complex, soothing, reflective, melodic.
It’s obvious we are in the hands of musicians capable of writing heartfelt, sincere music, and of handling their instruments with skill and grace.
The Context
It seemed pertinent that Jon Farley openly discusses his diagnosis of “chronic, refractory sarcoidosis”- which has a grim prognosis and profound health implications including frequent, debilitating pain.
In order to help his ailing lungs, he decided to sing until he can’t sing any more.
Music as Healer
Many of us need no convincing: music is indeed a great healer. For Jon it takes on the added aspect of helping him with the breath of life itself.
I thought the lyrics reflected on this central aspect at various points.
LYRICS
In “Falling Away”, the protagonist sings in haunting fashion of the sense of losing contact with loved ones and with life.
With Jon’s high, clear vocals leading the way, we are told, “Take my advice and never take for granted/ The breath to leave the mist upon the glass”.
“King of Yesterday” is a nostalgic look back at better days, finer times of health and hopefulness.
“Don’t Forget Me” takes the perspective of an aging person, longing to leave a legacy of love and meaning.
“Afterlife” is a reverie, a sort of eulogy to a lost loved-one, and hope that in the great beyond, there can be reunion.
It is not all grim and sad! That is not the prevailing tone at all.
“Everything in Balance” and “In the Moment” are profound celebrations of life and gratitude for beauty and love that give life meaning. In these, there is joy.
“The Last Emperor” is an epic tale centered on Emperor Puyi, last emperor of China.
In a way this seemed out of place due to the sudden shift of perspective to an historical depiction.
Yet, after some thought, it seemed that here too there is a meditation on the way life brings twists and turns, very little of which humans can control, only insofar as we learn to accept, or instead, become bitter.
And finally, the title track refers to the science-fiction notion that used to be circulated about the hollow moon being a home for aliens from the outer reaches of the universe.
The perspective here is aliens observing the the floundering, self-destructive ways of humans, and wondering, “WHY?”.
Conclusion
I have difficulty ignoring the context of how this music was formed and given life; you may not.
For me, it added pathos and tenderness to my appreciation of the album.
I found it a moving, lovely, gentle soliloquy that seemed to come from musicians with love and skill.
HOLLOW MOON links: website Facebook YouTube Jon’s blog on FB
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