Suffolk Quartet Arcane Moon Illuminate with Debut Album 'The Hour Glass'

Fresh from winning Best New Band at the 2025 East Anglia NMG Awards, Essex quartet Arcane Moon have unveiled their highly anticipated debut album, The Hour Glass — a richly layered, emotionally charged collection that cements their reputation as one of the UK’s most promising new acts.

Blending soulful melodies with driving grooves and an incisive indie edge, the band channel the reflective depth of R.E.M., Prefab Sprout, and Radiohead, while infusing the rhythmic precision of The Police and a distinctly classic rock warmth drawn from the 1970s and 80s. The result is an album that feels both timeless and vital, bringing thoughtful, textured songwriting that feels deeply human.

Recorded at Three Circles Recording Studio in Wimbish, Essex with co-producer Adrian Hare, The Hour Glass captures Arcane Moon’s live energy with authenticity. “One of the main reasons for choosing Three Circles,” the band explain, “was that it allowed us to play together, live as a band, rather than building it up one instrument at a time.” The result is a record that breathes — tight yet organic, polished yet palpably alive.

Three of the standout tracks — 'Sunday Gravy', 'Spirit of the Bear', and the anthemic title track 'The Hour Glass' — were re-mastered by Pete Meher (U2, Liam Gallagher, Pixies), lending them a stadium-ready sheen without losing the band’s intimacy or edge. Across its 12 tracks, the album balances kinetic, groove-driven arrangements with moments of contemplative stillness, marrying biting guitar work, swelling synths, and emotive vocals in a soundscape that is both cinematic and personal.

From the luminous pulse of 'Utopian' to the melancholic shimmer of 'Lumens' and the infectiously melodic new single 'Sunday Gravy', Arcane Moon demonstrate a maturity of songwriting and sense of purpose that belies their relatively short time together. There are shades of Phil Collins and Pink Floyd in the record’s expansive textures, yet the urgency and polish evoke the best of White Lies and The Killers — proof of a band unafraid to merge nostalgia with modern ambition.

Speaking about the creative process, the band describe their organic approach:“The songwriting usually starts with a guitar riff or chord sequence to spark a theme. We jam it out, layer different ideas, and once the structure feels right, Josh finalises the lyrics to tie the story together. The artwork then aims to capture the essence of that journey.”

Closing the album, the title track 'The Hour Glass' serves as both a sonic and philosophical statement — a soaring, emotionally resonant anthem that builds from a restrained verse into a cathartic crescendo.

Speaking about the new single and title track the band explain:“‘The Hour Glass’ is a reflection on time, fragility, and urgency - a call to move beyond materialism, protect our planet, and make every moment matter. The track is a series of wake-up calls about humanity: to materialism, reminding us that true meaning comes from experiences and connections; to our fleeting existence, placing human life in perspective against the vastness of time; and to our environment, warning that without change, we risk irreparable damage to the world we depend on. Like the hourglass itself, life is fragile - once the vessel breaks or the final grains fall, time cannot be reversed. It’s both a reflection and a reminder: to value what matters, protect what we have, and make the most of the time we’re given.”

The Hour Glass follows the band’s impressive rise since their debut single 'Three Little Words' in September 2024. Arcane Moon have since become a staple of the live circuit, performing across the UK at 8DayWeekend Festival (alongside Reef, Dodgy and The Feeling), Reepham Festival, Brightlingsea Free Music Festival, and headline shows at 93 Feet East, Camden Assembly, Hot Box (Chelmsford), Retro (Manchester), and Hertford Corn Exchange.

With The Hour Glass, Arcane Moon deliver a debut that is bold, cohesive, and profoundly human — a record that not only reflects on the passage of time, but promises a bright future ahead for one of Essex’s most exciting musical exports.

Listen below: