Third Time is a Different Charm

NOEL GALLAGHER's HIGH FLYING BIRDS
Who Built the Moon?
[Sour Mash/Universal-2017]

Just as he did with his previous band on album number three, Gallagher mixes things up and ventures into a slightly different musical approach on the third installment of the High Flying Birds adventure. But while Oasis’ Be Here Now [Creation-1997] didn’t stray too far from the band’s formula, Who Built the Moon? delves into a variety of styles and motifs, starting with a track that wouldn’t be out of place on a ‘90s Middle Eastern-influenced dance compilation (“Fort Knox”), horn-inflected glam (“Holy Mountain”), Jam-style Motown homage (“Keep on Reaching”), mid-tempo, light electronica (“It’s A Beautiful World”), ‘70s disco/rock (“She Taught Me How To Fly”), and a slice of Pink Floyd meets The Beatles' “Come Together” (“Be Careful What You Wish For”). And that’s just the first half.

Alas, the album’s second half covers more familiar terrain yet still departs a bit from the more mature Oasis type fare of HFB albums one and two. (The Stones-y "Black and White Sunshine" is quite engaging and "End Credits" is particularly breathtaking.) While it's all probably a tad unusual and maybe disconcerting to a chunk of his loyal fans, this is Gallagher being restless and expansive, a condition which, in addition to collaborating with electronica artist/composer David Holmes, who produced the album, results in an alternate take on the Gallagher blueprint. For those expecting the man’s classic and charmingly direct songwriting, Who Built the Moon?, with its colorful panoramic sonic canvas, might take a little getting used to at first—it’s his most “produced” release, solo and otherwise and definitely a grower—but it's a rewarding step forward, nonetheless.