Reviews

Indiecater Records  "The Language Of Everyday Life"

February 2009

If any record deserves to be given a vinyl release it’s this one (we’ll get round to it I promise) as the 8 tracks on ‘The Language of Everyday Life’ neatly divide into 2 sides. Side A (tracks 1 – 4) is slow and thoughtful, Side B (tracks 5 – 8) is quicker and if anything even more contemplative. This is a magical piece of work that always pops into my head when I think of my favourite albums. And although the production values may have been raw In Motion’s flawless melodies effortlessly banish any misgivings. This is an album of its time and of all time displaying a masterful array of indie pop moments (with a pinch of shoegaze). You’ll find yourself falling in love with the chiming guitars/sweet harmonies or just weeping gently at the plain old heartache that pervades throughout.

What’s even more exciting about this digital reissue is that the band have remastered the original album and given us 2 non album tracks ‘It Takes A Long While’ and ‘Untitled’ (we haven’t included them on the preview player below so you’ll have to buy the download bundle to hear them). One of these bonus tracks is fast and the other is slow in keeping with the notional split on the original album. So even with economies crashing, companies burning and less money in everyone’s pocket we believe this will be the best 4 euro you spend all year.

 

Indiecater Records  "The Language Of Everyday Life"

October 3 2006

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: 9.5/10

 

Hot Press - "The Language Of Everyday Life"

April 9 2001

FANS OF RTE’s No Disco will be familiar with In Motion. Their ‘Hollow Blow’ and ‘In Daylight’ videos received, er, heavy rotation on the popular series, and deservedly so. In Motion are one of the most beautiful home-produced bands ever. There, I said it (I’m glad I got that off my chest).

"The Language Of Everyday Life" is only the second release through the independent Dead Elvis label. (Wormhole’s "Chicks Dig Scars" being the other one), and also retails at the meagre sum of a fiver. With eight magnificently crafted songs crammed into a playing time of just under half an hour, this is pure indie pop, at times reminiscent of Into Paradise, but Alan Kelly’s vocals are sweeter than Dave Long’s ever were.

JOHN WALSHE

 

mp3hugger  "Until My Dreams Come True"

In Motion - Until My Dreams Come True

"Ah the big bowl of shamrock arrives and I’m slightly relieved because after a week of local acts I think the well may be well and truly dry. To finish on an imperious high here is a track from In Motion’s ‘The Language of Everyday Life’. This is in our top 3 Irish albums of all time so you can imagine the goosebumps when we got to re-release in on Indiecater just last year after a decade long slumber. This is a piece of work that never fails to bring out my tearful side because it is at once so sad yet utterly redemptive. I've had this track as my ringtone since I first got a mobile that could handle such things. Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig."

Review written by KD

 

mp3hugger  "Hollow Blow"

In Motion - Hollow Blow

"I probably go on a bit about the music we are reissuing on our sister label Indiecater so may I apologise for the rampant effusiveness that follows. I am literally jumping up and down with excitement with the reissue of one of my favourite records ever 'The Language of Everyday Life' from Dublin's In Motion. Not sure exactly how I found this record back in 1994 (there was only one thousand copies released, both of mine are stored in a fireproof cabinet) but I'd just moved to the metropolis at the time and was pretty much glassy eyed with how exciting the place was. No Disco were mad about the band with 'Hollow Blow' appearing on pretty much every show and despite its hazy visuals nothing could distract from the heart stopping music. Over the years I've returned to the album and each time I find a new centrepiece (at the moment it's 'Five and Twenty Thousand Miles') but there's no denying the power and immediacy of 'Hollow Blow'. The 'Language of Everyday Life' is selling for 4 euro on indiecater and courtesy of the band we've also bundled in 2 wonderful non album tracks as part of the package. Those of a certain stock will read Liam Ryan's illuminating walk through a very exciting time on the Dublin music scene with tears in their eyes."

Review written by KD

 

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

 

mp3hugger  "Hollow Blow"

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

 

mp3hugger  "Filter"

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 Sulán 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."

Review written by KD

 

Ornaith O'Dowd - Classic Irish indie from the 90's

July 9 2009

I know I'm supposed to be finishing this chapter, but I was so excited about this discovery that I had to post. Around 1994 and 1995, I was studying for my Leaving Cert (shudder) and I would have Dave Fanning on between eight and ten every school night while I was doing my homework. Whenever I heard something I liked, I would scribble a note in my homework notebook. Then, next time I heard it, I would tape it. (Yes, it was a long time ago!) If I'd taped more than two songs off a particular album, it would go on my list of wanted albums. Unfortunately, the list always far outran my financial means, and one of the albums I never got round to buying was The Language of Everyday Life (Dead Elvis Records) by a Dublin band called In Motion. They were a bit shoegaze, a bit C86, a bit Cocteau Twins, and brilliant. (They had a video featured on No Disco in which their drummer wanders around Dublin in a nice frock.) Fast forward some years, and I would often find myself wondering what happened to them and where I could find that album. No myspace page, no videos on youtube, seemingly nothing. Did no-one else remember how good they were? Well, as I have just discovered, the folks over at Indiecater records do, and they have done a digital release of the album. You can hear one of the album's highlights, "Hollow Blow" here-- just scroll to the bottom. Apparently they would like to do a vinyl release, which I think would be terrific. Incidentally, if you take a look at the site, you'll also find classic albums by Sunbear and The Brilliant Trees. Enjoy!

 

Hot Press - "For An Evening's Velvet Ending"

"‘Hollow Blow’ is the a-side and it is, indeed light, airy, spacious and sophisticated. Although it will remind you of a lot of the more memorable English Indie pop bands of the last decade, true to their own claim it still does manage to float and soar on wings crafted out of In Motion’s own personality. Tight, disciplined, with no superfluous padding anywhere, ‘Hollow Blow’ also has enough naughtiness to know that decent pop music is always short and sweet."

Patrick Brennan, March 9 1994