“Cover your cries, cover your cracks, devil’s inside, devil’s unsaid but I’m still here,” Pete RG serenades listeners with his most popular song “Still Here.” After the success of the album that features this track, RG let’s listeners know he’s “still here” with his latest work “Reaching for the Moon.”
Pete RG is an American indie singer-songwriter and producer from Los Angeles. According to his Facebook page, the name RG is taken from his childhood moniker, Argy, an abbreviation of his lengthy Greek last name Argyropoulos.
RG has a deep, rustic voice that I’ve come to enjoy. I had the pleasure of reviewing his EP “Lightening Strikes” earlier last February and was glad to have found him. I’m not normally a fan of indie, but Pete RG has helped me enjoy the genre more.
His latest work “Reaching for the Moon” is nothing short of marvelous. This new EP takes a slightly different sound but doesn’t disappoint.
According to Elmore magazine, RG went straight into the studio to write this new EP after the “Lightening Strikes” tour ended in April of 2015 . “It was one of those instances where you briefly think you’ve found the missing piece, only to realize you’ve discovered something new,” he told Elmore about the writing process behind the song “True Love.”
RG manages to incorporate something interesting into each of his releases. In “Lightning Strikes,” he exceptionally covers “I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen, and in “Reaching for the Moon,” he teamed up with Pearl Jam’s drummer, Dave Krusen.
“Reaching for the Moon” takes listeners on a journey from the very beginning. The first track entitled “Our Escape” makes you feel like you are drifting out to sea, then RG’s voice slowly starts pulling you back to shore. The music feels like waves. It’s calming.
Following “Our Escape” is “Divine,” which has a different but not out-of-place sound. This track evokes feelings of the 80’s but rejuvenated for modern audiences. In this song, RG serenades listeners with the “Reaching for the Moon” line the EP for which the EP is named.
The middle of the EP takes listeners on a journey of discovering love. “True love is a secret you get when you’re whole,” RG croons.
One of the last songs on the track list is how every girlfriend wishes her boyfriend would talk to them. “She’s a magic presence with a magic plan,” RG sings. “And she’s got me so; when she walks I stare; when she calls, I’m there; when she longs, I care.”
Although the list of songs is short, the more often you listen to them, the more you find something you like about them.
The only detriment RG’s work is that it comes to an end so abruptly. With this EP and his last, it feels as though Pete is holding out on us. However, it does keep fans hanging on.
This is a four-star album. It could be five stars if it didn’t leave fans wishing there was more. As mentioned, although it is a short work, it’s easy to find something new to enjoy with each new listen. If you like Pete RG, you’ll want to check out Palance, Anja Kickbusch and The Corporate Body.
