Anticipation continues to build for Travis’ seventh studio album;
their first release in almost five years. ‘Where You Stand’ was an absolute gem
of a lead single, one that stayed true to the band’s identifiable sound, but
also presented a little bit of something new. Now the second single from the
album has appeared: ‘Moving’.
One thing that this track does is prove that ‘Where You
Stand’ was not a one-off: the subtle developments in the band’s sound are just as
present here. Lyrically the verses are no longer confined to strict four-line
structures, as they overlap and move in time with the slight changes in pitch (the overlapping lyrics are particularly evident during the chorus). The
style of song-writing is familiar, but once again has dispensed with the use of
clichés that was a staple of Healy’s lyrics for such a long time. The images
created by the lyrics are simple but identifiable.
The instrumentation in the verses is far from innovative,
but the chorus really brings the song to life. The verses establish a sturdy
mid-tempo beat, but then the pitch goes way up and tonally the song becomes
much brighter: like fireworks against a cold night sky. The repeated refrain
that closes out the chorus “And on, and on, etc.” allows the pitch and tempo to
resume as they were.
The material that has been released thus far seems to be
giving an impression as to how the overall album will sound. ‘Where You Stand’,
‘Another Guy’ and now ‘Moving’ all showcase the little steps forward the band
have taken musically, and as such the album should be a solid one. I imagine it
will be the sort of album that will please fans of the band, but may not do
much to convert many new listeners. I could be wrong, but that is the
impression I’m getting. If this does indeed prove to be the case I don’t
necessarily think it’s a bad thing, Travis have a loyal fan base, and keeping
those fans happy shouldn’t be considered a negative thing.
I was looking forward to the album when I heard ‘Where You
Stand’, and ‘Moving’ has solidified that feeling.
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