It’s the two year anniversary of Moving Mountains’ wonderful self-titled (and final) album, so I figured I’d toss up my old AP.net review for #TBT. Still spin this one quite regularly.
Album Review: MOVING MOUNTAINS - MOVING MOUNTAINS
Let’s not waste our breath comparing past to present. With Moving Mountains, it’s an especially extraneous exercise – few bands have explored as many compositions with such little regard for previous material. After eight years of evolution, we arrive at the band’s third full-length in all its self-titled glory. Though few expected such mellow sounds from the group, Moving Mountains’ veteran songwriting and dynamic structuring have created an unexpectedly gorgeous record worthy of fans old and new. Whether intentional or otherwise, the album’s nine tracks neatly group in triplets, creating a three-act structure of sorts between different movements. Flow and feel are smooth, yet distinctive as the band shifts gears in new directions. The result is quite pretty and memorable despite the lack of energetic outbursts used in previous material. The exposition introduces the record via familiar tones, as “Swing Set” and “Burn Pile” channel New Light’s mood and instrumentation. As mentioned in a recent interview, the band’s EP of reinterpretations is “a good stepping point” and “inspired [their] approach for the new record.” Both “Swing Set” and “Burn Pile” build off that ambiance, utilizing wider sounds while emphasizing vocalist Greg Dunn’s melodies. “Hands” shows a noticeably deft touch, beautiful in its simplicity with subtle, yet distinguished instrumentation. You’d never know the band didn’t operate within these resonances their entire career. With the rising action comes the energy – and Josh Kirby. The new guitarist opens the second act with a great intro riff on “Seasonal” and contributes the album’s most active riff via “Hudson,” which should quell the Waves-sayers. Kirby’s contributions certainly recall his solo project while seamlessly integrating into the band and record. It’s no coincidence that drummer Nicholas Pizzolato shifts forward in these tracks, as his bombastic drumming drives the liveliness. But back to “Seasonal.” Besides serving as an excellent transition track, the song eschews traditional templates in favor of an altered structure that produces huge results. By utilizing vocals on only two verses, a bridge, and a single (and immense) chorus, the track weighs each section with additional significance, demanding unforgettable moments without the crutch of repetition – easier to accomplish via shorter tunes than rock songs. But the band nails it, employing concise and significant instrumental sections to round “Seasonal” into a track sure to stay on repeat. Within the aforementioned second movement comes “Eastern Leaves,” the album’s midpoint and best summary of the record as a whole. Dunn slowly builds from mellow vocals and acoustic guitar to the full band ambiance from act one, culminating into Moving Mountains’ biggest instances. By showing restraint and letting the vocals breathe, “I think it’s fair to say that we have both seen better days” ingrains into memory, becoming the record’s most notable lyric. The passion continues through a call back to “The Cascade” that’ll bring smiles, followed by a fantastic outro featuring guest vocals from Into It. Over It’s Evan Weiss. If only one song from self-titled finds its way to your headphones, make it this one. Resolution and simplicity arrive via the final act, where Dunn’s singer/songwriting interests shape the remains. The short “Under A Falling Sky” leads into the borderline poppy “Chords,” an upbeat ditty that demands sing-alongs. Just then, the soft transitions to the dark, as closer “Apsides” ends the record on a haunting note. Again, it’s consistently so pretty – we’ve thrown around plenty of synonyms and buzz words, though few do the album justice. More than anything, Moving Mountains feels complete. There’s finality to it. And between its self-titled status, the customary call-back to a fan favorite, and semblances to Dunn’s solo efforts, an all-too-possible reality becomes evident. Should such a reality come to be, Moving Mountains’ third full-length certainly has earned a spot on the mantel. 9/10
Catch more reviews + musical whatevers on Twitter.
