Sometimes it’s nice just to sit back and enjoy music for what it is, rather than be distracted by vocals that can sometimes take the focus away from the instrumentation, and a band that is really doing justice to the ‘instrumental’ genre is Animals As Leaders, who have crafted a thing of beauty with their latest effort The Joy Of Motion.
It’s not just an album without vocals; it’s so much more. It’s a music journey and Animals As Leaders have invited us along for the ride. And what a ride it is!
Quite often, instrumental bands run the risk of becoming background music if you don’t quite focus on the album but The Joy Of Motion is different – it piques your interest from the opening notes and doesn’t let you go until the closing chords, with particular highlights being the mini-epic Air Chrysalis and the hard-hitting and punchy Physical Education. It’s difficult to pinpoint just one section or song, because it almost flows like one continuous track.
A very enjoyable listen. It’s atmospheric and chilled, yet full of energy and adventure. Great stuff!
8/10
