Arctic Moon

British post-punk band Chameleons have been a significant inspiration to legions of indie and alternative acts since they formed in the early 80s, with their atmospheric guitars and urgent, passionate songwriting paving the way for styles and movements such as dream pop and Brit-pop. Following a brief but productive reunion during the early 2000s, leader Mark Burgess later formed ChameleonsVox to perform the bands back catalog, then Chameleons proper resurfaced again during the 2020s. Arctic Moon is only the fifth studio album of original material in the groups 40-plus-year history, and it stays true to the anthemic but not overblown sound theyve always been known for. If a new listener blindly heard the bands albums for the first time, they might not be able to tell when each was recorded, or which ones came after an extensive break. Opening song "Where Are You," previously recorded for a 2024 EP, has a strong riff and driving rhythm, eventually building up to a glorious, harmony-rich chorus. "Lady Strange" is upbeat and romantic, with lyrics praising a wonderful and mysterious partner. The string-laden "Feels Like the End of the World" switches to more of a jaunty waltz tempo, and its bitingly sarcastic lyrics cheerily face a society that seems to be on the verge of destruction. Following a few yearning ballads, including "David Bowie Takes My Hand," an elegy to one of the bands primary influences, the album ends with "Saviours Are a Dangerous Thing," which doesnt name names, but alludes to the current political climate, clearly evoking similar feelings as the post-industrial dread that informed the bands early work. Arctic Moon is a solid comeback from a group whose sound is so influential that it feels like they never left. ~ Paul Simpson