Released 10 years ago
We Move
James Vincent McMorrow · 2016
48 min · 11 tracks · folk music
A haunting blend of introspective lyrics and atmospheric production, weaving folk sensibilities with electronic textures.
Top tracks — play these first
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Rising Water — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its layered harmonies and poignant themes of struggle and resilience, encapsulating McMorrow's evolving sound.
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Evil — This track stands out with its stark contrast between haunting vocals and minimalistic instrumentation, reflecting deep emotional turmoil and vulnerability.
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Killer Whales — With its rich production and metaphorical lyrics, this song illustrates McMorrow's lyrical depth while maintaining an engaging sonic landscape that resonates throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends folk and electronic elements effectively, showcasing strong songwriting and production choices.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that build gradually in intensity, while the second half shifts to more subdued and introspective pieces.
- Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies that create a rich, atmospheric soundscape, blending folk elements with electronic production.
- The album includes moments where instrumentation drops out entirely, leaving only McMorrow's voice, which emphasizes the emotional weight of the lyrics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady pacing with emotional depth
- introspective sound for quiet moments
- haunting melodies for reflective listening
- gradual peaks that invite immersion
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat and fast tracks
- seek immediate gratification in music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Upon releasing We Move in January 2016, James Vincent McMorrow was transitioning into a more experimental phase after his critically acclaimed album Post Tropical. This album marked his third studio release and showcased his growth as an artist, moving away from traditional folk roots towards a sound that incorporated ambient and electronic elements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sufjan Stevens· Bon Iver· Iron & Wine
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Evil
A pivotal shift occurs when the narrative voice confronts a shadowy presence directly, revealing layers of internal conflict.
This direct confrontation disrupts the previously abstract storytelling, anchoring the emotional weight of the song in a personal struggle.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Rising Water 4:56
- 2 I Lie Awake Every Night 3:20
- 3 Last Story 4:47
- 4 One Thousand Times 3:20
- 5 Evil 4:41
- 6 Get Low 4:10
- 7 Killer Whales 5:00
- 8 Seek Another 4:09
- 9 Surreal 5:38
- 10 Lost Angles 4:20
- 11 Evil (Demo) 3:50
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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