Johnette Napolitano is a musician and vocalist that understands how to create an atmosphere with every record she releases. “Riding The Moon” immediately presents that sort of creation, gradually embracing its listeners in a soundscape that is both classic and modern.
The vocal is recognizable and distinct, and the tempo tempting – it’s hard to not dance. The music washes over you along with a sense of peace, and contrast with the vocal’s rhythm and personality. “Riding The Moon” is a lovely song, odd from the start but deeper in idea than the title permits. For the four minutes and forty-seven seconds that it plays, it is creatively original and continuously stunning, fusing a rather retro, guitar-driven sound by internationally recognized guitarist Benjamin Woods and and a memorable vocal melody by Johnette, who also plays the powerful bassline. Add a gypsy flamenco vocal flow by the legendary Jesus Montoya, and we have something special and unique.
The animated video by New Zealand artist Kemelyn (Gerardo Cesar) compliments the song with a moving story told without words but with plenty of feeling. It is a perfect marriage of audio and visual, and it only adds to the already high replay value of the song. Johnette Napolitano has always been a bit ahead of her time, and “Riding The Moon” is no exception. It is a song that will continue to impress long after its initial release, and it is a perfect example of the talent and creativity that this artist brings to her music.
There’s nothing more satisfying than immersing yourself in excellent music, and Johnette Napolitano’s “Riding The Moon” satisfies. It’s the perfect song to lose yourself in, a hypnotic soundscape and stunning vocal performance. Driven by a fiery Flamenco guitar and featuring a delicate, distant gypsy violin, the song is anything but familiar, yet somehow, it is.
