Album Review: Moss Body Explore The Cross-Section of Alt-pop and Electronic Music in Soul-Touching Debut Album

I’ve been covering music internationally for over a decade, and while I wouldn’t claim to have deep, first-hand knowledge of every local scene, there’s one pattern I can vouch for. Naarm/Melbourne consistently stands out as a hub of creativity and artistry. Home to artists like Hiatus Kaiyote, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Courtney Barnett, there's a new name I added to that list. Alt pop/electronic duo Moss Body, a refreshing new collaboration between singer-songwriter Grace Robinson and producer/synthesist Christy Wositzky-Jones (AKA Skinny Wizard).

The first time I heard their debut self-titled album (and without knowing anything about it), I felt that it sounds extremely mature for a brand new duo. I had a feeling there's more to the story and as it turns out, Grace and Christy share year-long friendship and previous collaboration work in the 6-piece neo-soul pop act Empress, which they co-founded back in 2021. I believe that bond truly culminates in the beauty of Moss Body, one of the most versatile and intricate releases I’ve heard in a while. And to think, the whole 7-track journey unfolds in under 30 minutes. Mind-blowing

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Drawing comparisons to Sylvan Esso, James Blake, Florence + The Machine and Imogen Heap (all artists I adore), Moss Body strikes a balance between intimacy and forward-thinking sound. The debut self-titled album blends electronic production with alt pop-inspired melodies, layered harmonies, and soulful vocals, all tied together by gorgeous production. It won't take you long to realize why "Hold You Better" was chosen as an opener - the song successfully delivers two key messages the duo wants you to know. Grace's voice is unstoppable and Christy can create spacious and minimal instrumentals that feel as vast as the universe at the same time.

Remember when I mentioned Moss Body's versatility? That's when "Learn How To Love" comes in. Shimmering pads draw you in, a subby bass hits, and Grace’s effortless, emotive voice takes over, weaving hooks before the chorus even arrives. race reflects on the writing process: “I found myself tired of writing depressing songs and wanted to flip the lens. Instead of talking about how hard it can be to heal / regain love for yourself, I wanted to frame it as a positive thing” and Christy, “ I started this song after recording a couple of wacky old synth sequencers at MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio). I’m slightly addicted to shuffle type grooves; they just make you bop so hard. We had the goal of making something that’s hard to sit still too.” A song that added so much playfulnes to my weekend!

One of the most emotional tracks on the album (for me) is "I Can't Remember February". This is where that ability to create minimal (yet very crucial) instrumentals truly shines. Built on clear, melodic structure, the song puts the voice front and centre, a perfect reflection of the duo’s precise musical vision. If you dig Imogen Heap, you will be exultant. Christy shares, “Creating a song that is mostly just Grace’s voice combined with my synthesised version of her voice felt like a perfect representation of our musical intention as collaborators. Both coming together to make something pretty and harsh, subtle and intense, acoustic and electronic”. Grace elaborates, “I wrote this song the day I turned 21 and never played it again. When Christy and I began this project, I stumbled across the voice memo and it made me cry”. This one certainly had me in chokehold.

There's no way I'm telling the story of Moss Body and missing on praising "Smoke Inside", my personal favourite on the record. The track pairs Grace’s echoing, alluring vocals with a touch of BICEP’s bold electronic production. When that synth took over at 1:45, I got instant goosebumps and immediately proclaimed Christy a genius. Dark, hopefull, and intoxicating, just like the rest of the album, I feel this is the song that will burn a special trace in my heart.

Follow-up "Like A God" and "Home" are tracks that end the journey in the most perfect way, because of their off-kilter blend of modern pop and folk. I feel these songs are designed and fitted there because just like in a carefully planned DJ mix, they allow listeners to take a breather after the heavily emotional "Smoke Inside".

Moss Body was such a breath of fresh air and a reason for me to start exploring alt pop more often. Grace and Christy have created an experience you need to live through.