The Moonlandingz are back with a bang—dropping their new single and video for Roustabout, featuring the unforgettable Nadine Shah. This track is the third taste from their eagerly awaited second album, ‘No Rocket Required,’ set to land on April 25 via Transgressive Records.
Roustabout is a passionate, gothic duet—a wild mashup of Nick Cave’s brooding intensity and Kylie Minogue’s irresistible pop flair. The video, directed once again by Jeanie Crystal (of “The Sign of A Man” fame), perfectly captures the band’s vibrant and boundary-pushing spirit.
Johnny Rocket (a.k.a. Lias Saoudi) teases us with an intriguing backstory on the track, describing it as “a fictional re-imagining of the complexities, stirrings and courage that appeared to dwell within an unnamed celibate moon faced indie icon from the 80’s!” Nadine Shah adds her own playful twist, dreaming of the song joining the ranks of legendary karaoke duets—on par with the timeless pairing of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in Islands in the Stream.
Watch the Roustabout video and let it transport you into their musical universe.
After a seven-year hiatus, The Moonlandingz burst back onto the scene, just when we needed them most. Emerging from the mythic Valhalla Dale, they once offered us sticky, squelchy pop tunes that soothed and stirred us in the wake of seismic political shifts. Their debut album, ‘Interplanetary Class Classics’ (2017), was an audacious blend of unreality and raw emotion—a necessary jolt during turbulent times.
Now, ‘No Rocket Required’ explodes with energy: think brassy squawks, motorik rhythms, and vocals that blend raw grit with tender introspection. With a stellar guest list including Iggy Pop, Nadine Shah, Jessica Winter, and Ewen Bremner (yes, that Trainspotting actor), the album is a sonic rollercoaster. Frontman Johnny Rocket, with his characterful, gravelly delivery, guides us through everything from the cheeky Give Me More to the epic Krack Drought Suite, where he morphs into a crooning sage of the working-class soul.
Then there’s Iggy Pop, lending a heartfelt touch on It’s Where I’m From—a song that offers a tender call for unity and warmth in times when we most need it. His lines, full of vulnerability and grandiose charm, feel like an embrace from a friend who understands the weight of the world.
‘No Rocket Required’ is a dazzling collage of sound and story, curated by Adrian Flanagan, Dean Honer, and their brilliant collaborators. It’s like Carl Sagan marveling at a chaotic disco in the heart of a gritty town—a cosmic celebration of life’s messiness and magic.
As we navigate these challenging times, with our lives constantly in flux and leaders dancing around tough issues, The Moonlandingz remind us that the answer lies in connection, creativity, and yes—dancing like there’s no tomorrow.
‘No Rocket Required’ track list
- Some People’s Music
- The Sign of A Man
- Roustabout
- The Insects Have Been Shat On
- It’s Where I’m From
- All Out Of Pop
- Yama Yama
- Give Me More
- Stink Foot
- The Krack Drought Suite (Pts 1-3)
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