Indicater Records - "The Language Of Everyday Life"

Signed to the imperious Dead Elvis label, In Motion left a small yet indelible impression on the local Dublin scene with their one and only album 'The Language Of Everyday Life'. The production was raw at best, decidedly creaky at worst, yet the abiding feeling of joyfulness on listening to this album of technicolor melodies is one to savour repeatedly. In Motion first appeared out of the blue on ‘No Disco’, Ireland’s much loved but sadly defunct foray into alternative music. The scattered images of ‘Hollow Blow’ portraying an ordinary ramble though Dublin City Centre were soundtracked by a haze of fuzzy guitars and a rollercoaster collage of mouth-watering vocals. Imagine standing in the Gobi in the midst of a snowfall; the effect is mesmerising, emotional even.

‘The Language Of Everyday Life’ is in essence a distillation of the jangle pop genre, where the chords lightly shimmer in unison with vocals that effortlessly spin pretty patterns. ‘Until My Dreams Come True’ is the stunning opener where the rampaging guitars melt into the sucrose vocals. The seamless playing is orchestrated by lyrics as unsullied as ‘In the corner of your heart, is there a place I can hide?’ Alan Kelly applies such integrity to his singing you’ll likely retreat to your cuff at every available opportunity. ‘Splitting The Seams’ and ‘Honey Sweet Soul’ sit side by side on a wave of Slowdive machinations. The pace is close to static, the chopping guitars resembling waves on a calm day. Why bother with that whales sound cassette when artificiality is as good as this, who needs a soother when you have the aural equivalent?

The second part of the album is where In Motion’s inner fireworks finally ignite. ‘Hollow Blow’ is machine gun pop with gum drops for bullets. ‘In Daylight’ is possessed by frenetic jangling guitars while Liam Ryan (Drums) keeps them in line. In an album of aerobatic vocals the swooping volleys by Kelly are heart wrenching. The albums soul comes in the form of ‘Five And Twenty Thousand Days’. The bass bumble (John Duff), the chugging riffs, the affecting singing and the heavenly trumpet as 20th century Scaramouche create an intoxicating mix so that by the time ‘Filter’ appears your heart will have already surrendered. And what a way to say goodbye. Right down to the gorgeous synth foray this is the sound of a broken heart saying goodbye. And at just 30 minutes this will be one of the shortest yet most enduring relationships you will ever have with a collection of songs.

‘The Language Of Everyday Life ‘is not a conventional album. Only 1,000 copies were ever shipped from the Dead Elvis’ offices. The production values alone make it sound like a demo recorded in a damp garage. It would be easy to dismiss but the ideas and warmth are of a band so special it is upsetting to realise that the world never even noticed. The only other release of note from the band was the ‘For An Evening’s Velvet Ending’ single (Mucksavage Records) which included ‘Hollow Blow’. In Motion members are still making music in projects as diverse as electronic Decal (Alan O’Boyle) and slowcore The Last Post (Alan Kelly). Whether either can ever reach such sonic heights is doubtful but having a pop sphere like ‘The Language Of Everyday Life’ in their back catalogue must be as comforting as a particularly downy duvet set. Seek this album out with the intensity of a mislaid winning lottery ticket.

Rating: 9/10

mp3hugger - "Five And Twenty Thousand Days"

In Motion - Five And Twenty Thousand Days

"As spirited and downright melodic as anything to ever have come out of Labrador In Motion were a short lived Dublin band led by Alan Kelly. Signed to the legendary Dead Elvis label they only ever released one album ‘The Language Of Everyday Life’ which had a limited run of a 1000 copies. The production lacked clarity, which meant the melodies had to work hard to be heard above the fuzz. Thankfully each of its 8 cuts were lavishly endowed with vocal hooks and abundant jangling guitars. Alan Kelly’s words are often masked in a harmonious free for all yet the music often raises the bar as on ‘Five And Twenty Thousand Days’ where a trumpet soars so triumphantly it’ll have you welling up. The inescapable euphoric feeling that pervades throughout In Motion’s music never really found an audience so here’s your chance to be whisked off your feet. Alan Kelly is still making music through the hushed beauty that is his Last Post."

Review written by KD

In Motion - Hollow Blow

"Drifting across 6,000 grainy shots of a run down Dublin the video for ‘Hollow Blow’ may not have been visually striking but with a backing track this ebullient it was always destined for repeated exposure on Ireland’s most progressive indie program ever ‘No Disco’. In Motion were led by Alan Kelly who seems to have gone to ground after the promise of his follow up to In Motion the Last Post. ‘The Language of Everyday Life’ was one of only 2 releases from the band and had a limited run of 1000 copies. The production was abrasively tinny but behind the din was a tanker full of cascading vocal melodies and jangling guitar riffs appropriating the blades of an aircraft engine. ‘Hollow Blow’ never fails to give me the goosebumps, it is pure unadulterated escapism put to music."

Review written by KD

In Motion - Filter

"Dead Elvis Records (R.I.P.) based on Parnell Street, Dublin 1 released one of my favourite albums ever in 1994 (it was their 2nd release). The album ‘The Language of Everyday Life’ was produced by a short-lived Dublin combo called In Motion. They were Alan O’Boyle on guitar, John Duff on bass, Liam Ryan on drums and Alan Kelly on vocals. You’ll notice how poor the production is on this the closing track 'Filter' (and the whole album in fact). It was recorded in April 1993 in Sulan Studios in Ballyvourney, Co. Cork. Despite the C86 aesthetics 'Filter' and its companions have held a tight grip on my affections from the moment all 1,000 copies (I've got 2!) of it were set free. Dual harmonies, frantic beats, a locker stuffed with flickering jangle and an organ drift at close make me well up without fail. This is music with a vibrant take on everyday life."