Robert Delong - Just Movement (04/07/2013)
Robert Delong is being pegged as the artist to watch for 2013 but upon listening to his album Just Movement, I didn’t get it. I admired him as a songwriter but the music, to me, sounded no different than many other electro-pop albums I’ve heard before.
I pictured his songs played to indie or alternative tracks and thought that made more sense. But it was because I was so drawn to his lyrics that I gave him the benefit of the doubt and did more research.
I watched the Global Concepts video and with it came a sense of clarity. Robert Delong is a VERY talented musician. His videos reveal his way of making music by moving a computer joystick to manipulate sound or spilling marbles onto a surface for audio effect. Unfortunately, this genius is not evident when listening to the album. But what is obvious is that this is a thought-out album. Robert is obviously trying to tell us something.
He said the album is a philosophical statement and that may be true, with many of the songs touching on identity and spirituality.
Religious Views is one of the better dance tracks on the album and simply repeats the line “be not afraid, it’s just a game”, when coupled with the song title, makes a bold statement in itself.
_______ (yes, that is a song title) has no words, just music. It’s quite climatic in the way it’s composed but I found it a touch out of place.
Upon listening to the album for a second time, with a much better understanding of how Robert works, I could not help but be impressed and pondering what he could possibly come up with next.
Nicole Barlow
I pictured his songs played to indie or alternative tracks and thought that made more sense. But it was because I was so drawn to his lyrics that I gave him the benefit of the doubt and did more research.
I watched the Global Concepts video and with it came a sense of clarity. Robert Delong is a VERY talented musician. His videos reveal his way of making music by moving a computer joystick to manipulate sound or spilling marbles onto a surface for audio effect. Unfortunately, this genius is not evident when listening to the album. But what is obvious is that this is a thought-out album. Robert is obviously trying to tell us something.
He said the album is a philosophical statement and that may be true, with many of the songs touching on identity and spirituality.
Religious Views is one of the better dance tracks on the album and simply repeats the line “be not afraid, it’s just a game”, when coupled with the song title, makes a bold statement in itself.
_______ (yes, that is a song title) has no words, just music. It’s quite climatic in the way it’s composed but I found it a touch out of place.
Upon listening to the album for a second time, with a much better understanding of how Robert works, I could not help but be impressed and pondering what he could possibly come up with next.
Nicole Barlow