ANIMAL SOULS Return with a Genre Spanning Gem in ‘Moondancing’

Moondancing, the second full length release from Abbotsford based collective Animal Souls, is an expansive and richly textured album that gracefully defies the boundaries of genre. At the helm is producer and bassist Michael Fisher, whose meticulous touch and collaborative ethos are felt in every track. What unfolds across the album’s twelve songs is not just a collection of music, but a thoughtful curation of sonic ideas that feel lived in, organic, and deeply human.

The album opens with May’s Song, one of three brand new compositions, and it immediately sets a tone of emotional intimacy layered in lush production. It’s a graceful introduction that subtly blends acoustic warmth with cinematic polish, a thread that runs throughout the record. Between The Lines follows, showcasing a melodic sensibility that’s both sophisticated and inviting. There’s a restraint to the instrumentation that allows the vocals to rise and fall naturally, giving the track its emotive weight without ever becoming overwrought.

On My Way, featuring the emotive return of Alison Cowie, is one of the album’s standout moments. The pacing is patient but purposeful, with atmospheric flourishes that create a kind of spacious urgency. It’s the kind of track that unfolds slowly, revealing new details on each listen, a hallmark of Fisher’s layered approach to songwriting and arrangement.

Elsewhere, The Lion and The Snake a reimagined piece from the group’s 2021 Wisdom of Crowds feels refreshed and invigorated. The new interpretation doesn’t just revisit the track; it deepens its emotional palette and sonic identity. There’s a rhythmic pulse that pushes the song forward, interwoven with lyrics that linger long after the final note fades.

Closing out the highlights is Take Me Home, a track that evokes a sense of yearning and arrival all at once. It’s a beautifully executed blend of soulful vocal phrasing and understated instrumental textures, offering a fitting midpoint for an album that thrives on emotional and stylistic contrast.

Throughout Moondancing, Fisher acts not just as a musician but as a connector, bringing together voices and visions to shape something far greater than the sum of its parts. It’s an album that honors its influences while confidently stepping into new terrain. With every listen, Moondancing reveals more: a subtle harmony here, a lyrical nuance there, rewarding those willing to lean in.

Available now on all major platforms

Follow ANIMAL SOULS for more releases and behind the scenes content: Instagram | Bandcamp | Twitter(X) | YouTube