In Motion – The Language of Everyday Life

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 Time’ 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.

We recently spoke to Liam Ryan from the band and he gave us the lowdown on how ‘The Language of Everyday Life’ was put together:

“In Motion sprang to life around 1988. Three school friends, Liam Ryan, Alan Kelly and John Duff, were drawn together by a love of similar music and attempted to master their instruments (well kind of) in a Crumlin shed. The first gig, I believe was in McGonagles ’90 and was quickly followed by many others in the legendary Underground, Rock Garden, Trinity, The Attic, Fox and Pheasant, Whelan’s, The Village (Cork) etc.

The early 90’s was a great time to be playing music in Ireland as lots of Irish bands were emerging with the same mindset. Everyone realised that they didn’t need the big record labels to release their music and then get dropped within the year. A DIY attitude surfaced with heaps of independent releases. In Motion’s first release was under Hope promotions and recorded by Dylan Philips of Pet Lamb. It was a 5 track split EP with Mexican Pets, Ciunas and Wheel called ‘A Statement Is A Weapon In An Empty Hand’ in 1992. Our next record was with Cork based Muck Savage records. This was a 3 track 7″ called ‘For An Evening’s Velvet Ending’ recorded in 1993 in Sutan Studios in Cork. This included two tracks that ended up on the album, ‘Hollow Blow’ and ‘In Daylight’ (the third ‘It Takes A Long Time’ is included on this digital release). The gigs were coming thick and fast, playing with the likes of Spiritualized, Fugazi, The Cranberries, Babes in Toyland, Mexican Pets, Pet Lamb, Sunbear, The Idiots, Luggage. Ah!!! The Attic days.


Alan O’Boyle joined the ranks on guitar sometime in ’93, filling the sound out. We recorded ‘Five And Twenty Thousand Days’ with MSR in Elm Tree studios Cork in January ’94 which also ended up on the album. Dead Elvis were an independent label that had already released the first Wormhole album. Eamon Crudden approached us and suggested doing an album. We started recording ‘The Language of Everyday Life’ in June 1994 at Fuse, Parnell Street, which was the hub of Dead Elvis operations. Marc Carolan was at the controls and did a great job. Can’t remember how long it took but probably would have taken a lot less time if we weren’t popping into the Welcome Inn for the odd pint! Cheers the Alan O’B for remastering the album. Hope you like it!!! All band proceeds are going to Aware.”

Press

Ornaith O’Dowd

…a bit shoegaze, a bit C86, a bit Cocteau Twins, and brilliant…

Love Shack, Baby

…jangly pop bits, flowery harmonies and energetic bass beats…

Elsewhere
Madchester Rave On, The Culture of Me, Thumped, No Rock and Roll Fun, Mars Needs Guitars, Gimme Tinnitus, Das Klienicum.

Videos

Hollow Blow (introduced by Donal Dineen off No Disco)

Honey Sweet Soul (the sweaty remix)

16 thoughts on “In Motion – The Language of Everyday Life”

  1. Happy days !….brings back memories of the Village in Cork in the early 90’s. Great sound. Still remember buying ‘For An Evening’s Velvet Ending’ on 7″ in Comet Records after getting a half day from school on a Friday….

  2. This has made my day! ‘Hollow blow’ popped into my mind for some reason, last Monday, when on the tube chatting to my boyfriend, and i felt so sad to think i hadn’t a copy of it…what a difference a few days makes!

  3. another thing, if they ever make a come back the need to use the synthesizer riff at the end of filter as a new project

  4. Hello Indiecater,

    this album is amazing. I always wanted to know hot it would sound if it was recorded in some pro studio etc.

    |ou say:

    “In our opinion CD’s have had their day (cassette tapes you say – where have you been living for the last decade)”.

    Hey, where have you been last few years? CBR mp3 suck :). I mean I will rather wait for LP. Keeping my fingers crossed. Have you considered selling the files in lossless format (maybe for higher price)? I know I am a terrible purist but burning mp3 on CDr? Brrr :-). Even Amazon offers v0 (lame 3.97). Flac is the future IMHO.

    Wishing you the best
    hoky

  5. P.S. Sorry for typo. Not “hoT it would sound” but “hoW . . . “. I am sorry :).

  6. Its amazing to be able tobe able to download In Motion stuff. All I had up to now was the three track 7inch on Muck Savage Records I remember seeing them in The Shelter in Cork at A Jazz Me Bollix gig run by Shane Fitz. Whipping Boy and Emperor of Ice Cream played the same weekend.

  7. Wow! I am from the USA and a huge fan of this sound. I’ve never heard this until tonight but yet it brings back memories I’ve never had. I can’t pick my jaw up off the ground . Amazing. It reminds me of bands like Power of Dreams, Ride etc. Brilliant indeed.

  8. i have been looking for this album ever since it came out. i have spent the last ten years trawling ebay, amazon etc. looking for it. Apart from its paper thin production I recall it as being one of the greatest mini albums ever.

    They looked like boyzone and sounded like ride……how odd.

  9. I had a copy of this album on tape which bestowed me endless entertainment and many happy memories. Alas the tape got misplaced and I could never find the album anywhere in shops or online. Is it now available on vinyl??? Its hard to believe this album never got the recognition it deserved, its truely beautiful!

  10. Great to hear this again.. wonderful site and it is so good to have some of these mid 90s albums available somewhere again. Sitting here looking at my Statement is a Weapon 12” as I type.

  11. lots of happy memories associated with this album. this stuff is both of its time and totally timeless. so much packed into just 2 releases. the ‘velvet’ 7″ is one of my prized possessions complete with photocopied insert. the b-side ‘it takes a long time’ is one of the most haunting vocals in the history of irish music. and that’s not hyperbole. love love love this band. thanks for getting it out into the world again!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *