ALBUM REVIEW – MOON PANDA – ”DUMB LUCK“

Desh Kapur
Sep 26
2 min read

WORDS HARRY K

Moon Panda - Dumb Luck

Release Date: 26th September 2025

"It’s dream-pop, but with bite — like being hugged and slapped at the same time"

Moon Panda have always been good at making dream-pop that drifts like smoke, but Dumb Luck is where things finally click into sharp focus. Written between continents, house moves and sleepless nights (frontwoman Maddy Myers had a baby in the middle of it all), it’s their most personal and collaborative record yet – and it bloody shows.

“Butterknife” is a woozy love song with a sneaky gut-punch of insecurity, while “Penny” goes full split-personality, starting out all Beatlesy whimsy before detonating into something heavier and meaner. Elsewhere “Superstore” floats on pure atmosphere, the kind of track that makes you want to stare at the ceiling at 2am and wonder where it all went wrong (or right).

The production – courtesy of Adam Thein (Djo) and bandmate George Godwin – is pristine to the point of obsession. Every guitar squall, every shimmering synth, every beat is nailed down tight, yet Myers’ feather-soft vocals keep it all human. It’s intimate, confessional stuff, never afraid to poke at the raw edges of motherhood, identity and those annoying “what-ifs” that refuse to piss off.

Sure, the record sometimes drifts too deep into its own haze, and a couple of tracks blend together if you’re not paying attention. But when Moon Panda hit their stride, they’re irresistible – lush, hypnotic, and just cracked enough around the edges to feel real.

With Dumb Luck, Moon Panda prove they’re not just another dream-pop band gazing at their shoes – they’re staring straight at the mess of real life and turning it into something gorgeous.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4 Stars