LA’s three piece disco punk outfit, the Moving Units, are back again, this time with a full-length album entitled “Dangerous Dreams.” Moving Units deliver an original and grittier eighties sound with remnants of Gang of Four, New Order/Joy Division, and Modern English fused with danceable disco beats by drummer Chris, who at live shows can hardly stay behind his drum kit.
“Dangerous Dreams,” begins with "Emancipation." Chris produces a dirty disco beat fusing with singer/guitarist Blake’s crisp, noisy, mono guitar and vocals and fitted together with Johan’s impressive and dynamic hook filled bass lines. Next up is the song that put MU on the map, “Between Us and Them.” This song is so catchy you’ll be humming along during your first listen. The album version was re-recorded and comes across great, though it has lost some of the subtle nuances of its all-star performance caught on the debut EP version. Beginning with the cadenced thuds of a kick drum “Available” is met with a noisy X-rated guitar line as singer Blake howls “Desire/I am filled with righteous anger/ You communicate such danger/ Will you deny my one passion/ To proceed here in this fashion.” In the chorus the band sings with high pitched voice – like a litter of new born kittens - “Desire/ Feelings/ Are you available for (Are you available for)/ Are you available.” - This is the same track Moving Units previously released on a bootleg CD last year during a Los Angles performance at the El Rey Theatre. Also included is the retro and catchy “Unpersuaded,” previously only available as a web download.
“Anyone” with its medium tempo drum machine beat that sounds like it came directly off a Casio. It’s backed with a groove solid bass line and complimented by some eerie eighties keyboards flowing around Blake’s call for a response “Anyone/ Anyone/ Calling anybody out there/ Anyone (Is there anybody.)” My favorite track off the album is “Scars.” This song could easily give Interpol a run for their money. Blake’s spacey guitar riff and passionate vocals cradled in a steady beat and solid bass groove evokes a darker side of the band. The moody and broken-hearted “Scars” show cases the dynamic song writing as the song progressively builds and builds to its climactic ending. The musically diverse track “Submission” which is first reminiscent of early Modern English sound then quickly changes into an early Duran Duran vibe with shimmering goodness. Tracks like “Birds Of Prey (Love Life)” continue with the bands more signature sound while “Bricks & Mortar,” filled with a playful bass line, delayed voices and echoing drums, delves into dub reggae overtones. A weaker track on the album is the Nirvana-esque tightly wound “Killer/Lover” which seems a little repetitive. Ending the disc is the slow and lurking “Turn Away” in which Blake’s pleading lyrics insinuates a relationship coming to its closure.
Moving Units share the same pretensions as Interpol--that brooding eighties angst revisited--with one notable difference—they can balance the eighties attitude and postures, the dark undertones and moodiness with an irresistibly danceable sound. The bands name says it all-they’re here to make you move-physically perhaps more so than emotively, though that’s certainly present. Moving Units song-writing skills don’t mire the listener in some downward depressive spiral and paralysis, these songs will inevitably make you shake and dance. And if possible, be sure to catch their playful and charismatic live show at a venue near you! What makes the Moving Units so great to watch is the odd equilibrium established by the members’ diverse personalities-Blake with his angst filled epileptic dancing, drummer Chris’s energetic captivating stage shenanigans, and Johan’s shy stage presence as he keeps the band bound together with his groove filled bass lines. It’s the perfect kinetic and visual representation of what their music is all about…just don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes. |