I a Moon is the third album by the English cross-disciplinary music ensemble North Sea Radio Orchestra (NSRO). It was released on July 4, 2011, on the Household Mark label. Background I a Moon was the first NSRO album to be produced in full by the group leader Craig Fortnam, who composed the music for the album during the winter of 2010/2011. The album was recorded, edited and mixed at various locations in southern England on Fortnam's laptop computer, apparently following an unsuccessful attempt to record it in the "live" manner of the two previous albums. The album reflects several changes in approach for the NSRO, with Fortnam attempting to steer the project away from its cosy reputation. He has commented, "I got a bit tired of reading reviews of [the NSRO's music] 'tolling through the sunlit glades' and all that. People have accused us of being twee, and if you only like The Ramones then we probably do sound fairly twee, that's fine. But I always think it has a certain darkness that saves it from that, personally." Early press releases highlighted the album's "darker, less pastoral sound", announced new influences including Krautrock and the experimental indie band Deerhoof, and revealed that the band's music would now have more emphasis on synthesizer and percussion than previously. This was the first album by the band without its choral vocal section, the North Sea Chorus. The second change of approach was a move away from the Victorian and Edwardian poetry settings of the first two albums in favour of Fortnam writing his own lyrics. Fortnam has commented that "I think I was slightly aware that I was removing myself a little bit [previously]. Why cut down an avenue of self-expression? I was aware of that for the first time, really." This also resulted in a darker musical and lyrical tone, which Fortnam revealed "touches on tragic things that I've experienced, and that brings on more profound feelings." One of the major inspirations of the work was the plight of Fortnam's friend and mentor Tim Smith, who was incapacitated by a heart attack and series of strokes in 2008. I a Moon was the first album to be released independently on Craig and Sharron Fortnam's own new label, The Household Mark. Critical reception Initial critical responses to I a Moon was positive. The Rock Club compared the album to the work of