Anthony Presti’s "Lemon Moon EP" bottles sunlight & sentiments
When something was made in a place that has sincere meaning to them, you can literally feel the soul ooze out of the music itself. On Lemon Moon EP, Anthony Presti transforms a beloved Sebastopol cottage into more than just a recording space, it almost becomes a character or a mood that’s become apart of the whole record. What’s emerged from that setting is a six song collection that feels less like a studio project and more like a memory you can step into. We absolutely adored it on the first listen and have no doubts you will too.
Written during the stillness and uncertainty of the pandemic, the EP carries a sense of reflection lyrically. He’s always had a knack for crafting songs that feel like he’s been there, but here, there’s an added layer of intimacy. Maybe it’s the mixing or production making you feel like you’re in the room, but really just connecting the dots within his words tells you everything you need to know.
The instrumentation definitely plays a huge role in that feeling. Acoustic textures form the backbone of the EP, complemented by some super cool drum work that feels organic and unforced. There’s a looseness to the rhythm section that gives the songs room to breathe, like a band playing together in real time rather than assembling pieces in isolation. Presti brought in Blue Radio for the opener “Simple Things” and there was no better way to kick off the record. Talk about setting a tone immediately!
Vocally, Presti is at his most compelling. His voice carries such a fantastic natural warmth that wraps around you. He even proved he could tackle other genres because we definitely got a sort of reggae-ish vibe from “Her Eyes”.
The collaborative spirit behind Lemon Moon EP has to be mentioned too. With contributions spanning from California to England to Texas, the project could have easily felt disjointed. Instead, it comes together seamlessly, unified by his vision and the shared intention of everyone involved. Each collaborator adds a subtle shade to the palette. It’s the keys that shimmer gently in the background, vocals that elevate without overshadowing, and production choices that always aimed to enhance. We’d suggest you listen with a nice pair of headphones to get those subtleties, but you couldn’t go wrong with a bluetooth speaker at the beach either.
Despite there being lots of different sounds and styles, we can still confirm this is very much an album experience. It’s breezy, polished without losing its human touch, and still gives you a little taste of everything with the constant of those acoustics running throughout. At just six songs, Lemon Moon EP really impressed us in the simplicity overall.
It’s a full-circle project in every sense, born from that specific place, shaped by meaningful collaborations, and delivered with a sense of honesty. Anthony Presti made something that listeners can return to whenever they need a little light. Go ahead and click those links below to listen in, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for whatever else is in the works.
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