Giant
steps! Grandiose choral-psych epic-ness from Gothenburg!
There's
a heaviness that permeates this LP by The Movements. Not only does
its title mention an animal that's the epitome of wild regal dignity
but the album's lyrical themes are big and imposing too; death,
religion, reincarnation, and the seismic shifts of seasons, etc.) The
fact that this is merely the first release in a two part opus (Like
Elephants 2
follows early next year) only adds to the feeling of it being a
statement as opposed to merely a release. I first became aware of the
band via the Garage Punk Hideout social network, always thought they
were one of the more interesting garage rock bands out there but
never expected them to release anything quite as accomplished as this
LP.
The
album's opening cut is recent single, The Death Of John Hall D.Y. It
begins with snippets of lo-fi rehearsal tapes before a segue into the
fully recorded version. It's effect is a bit like the shift from
black and white to technicolour in The Wizard Of Oz, and serves to
mark the band's progression from the raw, (but still rather good)
garage band of yore, into the more ambitious sounding band we have
before us now.
With
a sound rooted in late '60s psych-tinged folk-rock, embellished with
vocal harmonies, 12-string chime, guitar freakouts and the use of
extended free-form sonics, the band have captured autumnal sadness
on a grand scale. While
there is a harking back to the classic bands of yesteryear (most
notably The Byrds), The Movements have not merely aped a sound,
rather they've co-opted it to share their own thoughts, feelings and
messages. Let's hope part 2 is equally rewarding.
www.crusherrecords.com
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