Moonchild Sanelly – Full Moon Album Review (AOTM January)

South African artist Moonchild Sanelly has performed at festivals like Primavera Sound in Spain and SXSW in Texas, and she even toured Europe with Die Antwoord in 2018. However, I would still say she remains relatively unknown outside of Africa. I discovered her music recently through her second album, Phases, released in 2022.

It immediately caught my attention with its playful sound. Phases was quite long, featuring 19 tracks, many of which explored multiple genres. Compared to Phases, Full Moon feels like a more cohesive package. With this album, it truly feels like Moonchild Sanelly has found her artistic identity. It is full of playfulness, yet everything is well crafted, with every detail carefully placed. The production, both soundwise and in terms of arrangement, is spot on.

At times, Moonchild Sanelly’s music brings to mind the visionary M.I.A. and the genre-blending Santigold. Her unmistakable voice, combined with an incredible flow in both singing and rapping, undeniably leads her music. Additionally, her seamless mix of English and Xhosa in her lyrics adds a unique layer that few can replicate. The way she switches between these two languages is so organic and fluid that listeners might not even notice the transition.

Beyond her distinctive vocal delivery, the album is packed with punchy basslines that stand out beautifully throughout the record. Full Moon manages to be bold and compelling amidst all its playfulness. This is particularly evident in more melancholic tracks like In My Kitchen and Gwara Gwara, where a deeper emotional tone emerges.

As The Guardian describes, “Full Moon showcases her signature style, blending South African dance genres like kwaito, amapiano, and gqom with global influences, resulting in what she calls ‘future ghetto funk’.” 

Moonchild Sanelly’s ability to fuse pop sensibilities, hip-hop, electronic dance music, and South African elements ensures that Full Moon is a unique yet irresistibly catchy record.

Release Date: January 10, 2025

Moonchild Sanelly – Full Moon

Album of the Month by Cuberat