Uniform Motion is Andrew Richards and Renaud Forestié. This is truly a release for the multimedia generation. Each song off the album contains a corresponding music video as well as beautiful art direction and comic strips provided by Renaud Forestié. Their music is rich with pop sensibility, experimentalism, waves of vocal harmonies, and layers of acoustic guitar. Notwist, Elliot Smith, and Sufjan Stevens come to mind when listening to Pictures. With all the comparisons, Uniform Motion manage to paint a sound that remains all their own.
The 4-string guitar is the backbone of this album. Multiplied, duplicated, interlaced, and dissonant – as if there were different personalities trying to jump out of it. The vocals follow the same pattern - when strummed guitar strings become strings of words, or soft utterances that give substance to a subconscious idea. The beating of African percussion can be heard in the background, emanating from an urban soundscape, evoking a primitive nature, an imaginary journey, a calm floating sensation. The guitars hold this all together.
Some may think that Rain&Soil is reminiscent of the magnetism of Midlake’s Roscoe, that the generosity of Earthly Diamond resembles that of Sufjan Stevens’ work, that the vocals point towards the softness of Iron & Wine. Some may even sense José Gonzalez’s guitars resonating in the picture somewhere. Or perhaps there’s something you can’t quite put your finger on that makes you think of Peter Gabriel. The author of the biography can’t argue with any of that.
I cannot recommend this album enough. Uniform Motion is definitely a band to keep a close eye on as they grow and progress musically. Pictures is a joint release on No-Source Netlabel (US) with aaahh-records (DE). You can support the artist further by purchasing the album.
