Moving Mountains - Forward

10/10

This album was released in 2008, but I have been so busy listening to it that I have only now got the opportunity to review it. Although this EP is only 4 songs it clocks in at over 35 minutes, which gives you just about as much music as most standard pop punk albums. Since I have been venturing into the realm of ambient and instrumental rock, I have found that Moving Mountains is perhaps the number one artist in this genre, and for me, at least a top five overall after releasing this EP.

The opening track is the title track of the album called "Forward" and clocks in at over nine minutes which is similar to the other tracks on the album, where there is only one song that is less than nine minutes. This track starts with a light guitar and some delay accented by more light percussion and strings. After a build up of this, there is a slight rest before the band breaks out into a full textured explosion of sound. The track moves into another build up with some interesting guitar lines until the vocals come in which fulfill the epic needs of the song.

What is interesting about this track is that although it is 9 minutes long it is split up into what could be considered two halves. At about five minutes in, the driving force of all the instruments and vocals cuts into a slower progression with only the slightest touches of accenting. This soft progression slowly makes its way into a tension building section, which later warrants more vocals, and another brilliant display of movement through perfectly placed string lines and drum hits.

As "Forward" fades out, we begin to hear the song entitled "With One's Heart in One's Mouth" where already you can feel the different approach and we get a taste of some piano as the song progresses into a more familiar epic sound that compliments the album. Then finally as the mood calms... All is lost!, the introduction to some of the most incredible lyrics I've heard since The Cast Before The Break's 'As Your Shoulders Turn On You'. After a section of humbling lyrics the song moves into a break down, which ultimately results in noise as this track too cuts itself in half to give us the perception of two pieces within one. However in this half of the track unlike our opening track, the resemblance of the first half is similar in melody but holds a different value, offering an interesting use of effects and ambience as the instrumental ending carries itself out.

The following track begins as an acoustic song with lyrics appearing immediately, which at first reminds me of "Sol Solis" from the bands previously released album 'Pneuma'. More outstanding lyrics for this song, which eventually leads to a solo acoustic guitar until a burst of texture and color brought me back to a craving for more epic moving songs. The vocals are repeated at a louder volume and stronger emotion. This carried on until the song fades back into an acoustic guitar with some ambient electric tones and an interesting supporting beat on the toms.

Not much of a fade as the last track on the album immediately takes off. This track entitled "Lights and Shapes", gives us an experience with some experimenting on the vocal tracks used to emphasize certain areas. As this song also breaks down into a slower section, it doesn't take long until it takes off for the big finish of the album. There is a very prevalent string section here that drives the rest of the outro until fading out into ambient guitar noises and effects.

The album so perfectly compliments itself with each track. There are sections where the music fades into a more ambient area of tones and effects but they’re needed. It gives you the opportunity to catch your breath and prepare for the next arrangement. As album rock grows ever more popular, Moving Mountains continue to amaze me, and I am delighted to hear a follow up to ‘Pneuma’ that is nothing short of perfection.

Track Listing

1-Forward

2-With One's Heart In One's Mouth

3-Armslength

4-Lights and Shape