Hyde Out’s “Moonfactory” takes storytelling and expression through music to another level. Composed of thirteen songs, you could never get lost with the familiarity of each track; each and every one of them feel as though they belong together, even if listened to separately.
Despite their correspondence with one another, each song tells a tale or a dominant feeling. One could not just snap their fingers and go “ah, it’s a love song”, because it’s vague yet specific to what it wants to convey at the same time. Surely, it is up for interpretation according to the listener, but with the way the words are delivered, anyone would immediately get influenced by the emotion of how it’s sung.
Moonfactory starts with “Oblivious”, which encapsulates what one should expect by listening to the whole thing, a great start and introduction to the album. You are bound to get hooked with the initial track’s melodies, making you anticipate what’s to come on the second one, “Dedicated To The Ones Who Want Me Dead”. After the journey within, it ends with “Oblivious (Reprised)”, making one feel as though they have traveled the world, climbed every mountain, felt every feeling there is.
If we’re talking about the actual songwriting aspect, every song feels as though they were handcrafted one by one with care. They feel personal and in depth; like a dear friend expressing themselves to you, or catching you up after a while of not seeing each other. Lines such as “I tried to fly but my wings are tied / I tried to speak but my lips are tied”, or “Leave me to rest my broken bones” make you realize that this kind of meaningful songwriting is timeless and could just appear or happen in the industry given the artist’s courage. This record is deep, courageous, and creative.
There is no doubt these songs come with harmonies and commonalities. As mentioned, one could listen to a track separately and listen to the rest of the album and would still be able to determine that the former does in fact belong in that record. The tracks share the same vibes with songs usually played on the radio during family car rides, and the designated driver would just be tapping on the steering wheel and loudly singing along. At least, that’s what “On Your Way”, “Powder-coated penguin in undisclosed location”, and “Another Life” feels like.
This record dabbles and experiments with different combinations whilst maintaining the band’s familiar touch. Despite having relaxing or calming beats to be played in the background or during a walk home, Moonfactory also has upbeat tracks such as “Kryptonite” and “Go High”, which comprises catchy guitar parts that will surely get anyone going. “Firefly” also meets the upbeat criteria, with an easy-to-remember structure that is bound to get stuck in your head if you listened to it for a number of times. If you’re looking for a break from all sense of rock, “Being On” opens with acoustic guitar, and is somehow a break from the album’s dominant tone and feel.
Personal favorite? “Cityscape 49”. It’s a beautiful song with a melody you could fall asleep to. That, or you could paint a picture of a fruitful jungle (contrary to the track’s title) or simply strolling along the city. It’s peaceful, interlaced with guitar and piano notes that truly makes this song and record special due to its variety and uniqueness.
If you’re ever looking for fresh faces to listen to, Hyde Out is the way to go. Start with Moonfactory while you’re at it. It’s familiar yet different, and could easily be a recommendation to someone getting into the indie rock/alternative scene.
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About the Author
Kate Clarice Lee is a psychology major in Ateneo de Naga University with a knack for music and writing. She takes interest in playing guitar, poetry, creative writing, and lyrics that—subjectively—hit close to home. Kate mostly enjoys indie, alternative, pop & punk rock music.
