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April 13, 2018 - Defected (DFTD)
Australia, home to the world’s deadliest assortment of critters, also houses soulful funk electro duo Human Movement, and they seem harmless as of yet. But in this climate it’s hard to positively project the long career of any male of celebrity or importance. As far as I know they’ve yet to hurt anyone, and their debut two-song project Run it by Me on Defected records is a gentle club groover that at least suggests goodwill.
‘Run it by Me’ is a strong start. As a whole the project is unobtrusive without losing spark. It’s catchy. The first track does less to set the duo apart and more to demonstrate their prowess in matching current soulful electro. I don’t think anyone with any enthusiasm for indie is going to pretend they’re not comparing any new Australian act to Tame Impala. That said, ‘Run it by Me,’ shares the dreamy vocal and pop synth undertones without coming across as derivative. A lulling electric piano opens the track and it could just as easily be a full on indie track, but the duo quickly introduces glitchy pauses along with a hard techno high hat to establish the track’s bearings. Pouty vocals introduces the particular brand of hipness listeners are up against with Human Movement. It’s Disco Nuevo if you ask me. Disco Nuevo, as if no one has ever said it before—it’s about the attitude, not the song structure. Sexy, lilting, and self-assured, the track addresses itself to a spurning lover, someone stealing the lyricist’s steez. “I left it all behind me,” is the lyrical focal point and speaks to an ethos of what I consider my generation that’s primary quality is adaptability.
The second track ‘Help A Brother Out,’ shows Human Movement’s harder-stepping side. Lyrically more ambiguous and atmospheric, track two seems to poke fun at lyrical platitudes present in the sloshy club mixes. But I honestly can’t tell if they just mean it. “Can you help me out,” and “learn the meaning of a broken heart.” I don’t know. The prevalent cowbell, which adds a westernized salsa feel to the underlay, compels me toward irony. The chords are simple and the arrangement straightforward. Understated percussion does a lot to keep the ear interested in both tracks, but takes particularly interesting turns in ‘Help A Brother Out.’ The percussion mirrors the subtext in the tracks, which is something to the equivalent of: people need the same shit they’ve always needed even though we’re all tired of hearing about it—help a brother out, any brother, help.
With what I hope is a fine emotional intelligence attuned to compassion and dispassionate about affect, the duo has demonstrated great musical capability and awareness. Though they lack a defined voice, such a nascent career leaves much to be developed. I’m more pleased with the potential for Human Movement than with what they’ve put out. ⛰️