Today, Bay Area collective Moonalice releases their latest body of work, Full Moonalice Vol. 2, a new volume of psychedelic soul to pair with their Nettwerk debut. Mixed and mastered by 4x-Grammy Award-winning engineer Dave Way, the six song EP exudes the positive energy and love for which the band is well known.
“What can I say about the new EP? Well it sure has some magical, musical, Moonalice memories,” proclaims Lester Chambers. “We are bringing you a whole new level of Love Peace and Happiness! The overall theme of the new EP is love and you sure can feel it. We have taken a few rockin’ classics and put our own psychedelic soul spin on ‘em! We hope you fall in love with our new EP and share our message to all your friends and family, because after all, you are all part of the Moonalice Family!”
Full Moonalice Vol. 2 opens with the joyful “Love, Peace and Happiness.” Initially written by The Chambers Brothers as the psychedelic counterpart to “Time Has Come Today,” Lester Chambers and Moonalice use the energy of the past to create something special for the present on their new version. Lester’s son Dylan Chambers takes the lead on the uplifting anthem “Yes We Can Can,” which features the T Sisters’ inspired backing vocals and Lester Chambers’ emphatic rally cry, “I know we can make it, I know we can make it if we try!” Through the Grateful Dead classic “Uncle John’s Band,” the rollicking shuffle “Love Me Today,” and a sparkling arrangement of the Ashford & Simpson classic, “You’re All I Need To Get By,” Moonalice puts the shining harmonies of the T Sisters’ Erika, Rachel, and Chloe Tietjen on center stage. The album also includes the “Love Medley,” a mashup of the Beatles classic “All You Need Is Love” with Jackie DeShannon’s “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” arranged by Moonalice keyboardist Mookie Siegel.
“‘You’re All I Need to Get By’ is an iconic love song that perfectly encapsulates the ‘power of love’ ethos of Moonalice,” states Chloe Teitjen. “Our arrangement pays homage to both the Marvin Gaye/Tammy Terrell version, with its conversational flow between voices, and the Aretha Franklin version, with its staccato counter refrain. We love how this song came together and hope you do, too.”
Coinciding with the new EP, Moonalice presented a special San Francisco screening of Questlove’s Academy Award-winning Summer of Soul, produced in partnership with the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. The film documents the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park, the same summer as Woodstock. Lester Chambers and The Chambers Brothers rocked the festival stage, and two of their songs are included in the documentary. A stunning performance of their song “Uptown,” with the lyrics “Going uptown to Harlem,” opens the film and serves as the backbone of narration about Harlem’s rich cultural history and the political climate in America at the time. The Chambers Brothers’ 1969 track “Have a Little Faith” closes the film.
Full Moonalice Vol. 2 EP Tracklist
1. Love, Peace and Happiness
2. You’re All I Need to Get By
3. Yes We Can Can
4. Love Me Today
5. Love Medley – All You Need Is Love / Put a Little Love in Your Heart
6. Uncle John’s Band
