I don't think it's any secret that we're massive fans of The Run Up here at CPRW towers. Aside from being a fantastic band who write and perform brilliant songs, they are also among the nicest and hardest working people we've had the pleasure of meeting from the UK DIY scene. They have this wonderful ethos of going on tour and making new friends, something I think is very important for a DIY band. This is big reason that The Run Up are becoming more and more popular wherever they go. That set at Molotow Club in Hamburg during Booze Cruise Festival in June was one of the most incredible 40 minutes of music I've seen ever. Despite the mega long European tours, somehow The Run Up have also found time to write and record their second LP titled In Motion. Released on 3rd October by Real Ghost Records and Gunner Records in the UK/Europe and Get Party Records, La Escalera Records, Money Pit Music, Swamp Cabbage Records and &Vinyl Records in North America, I was super excited to be given the opportunity for an early listen.
In Motion begins with Portraits. If you've seen The Run Up live this summer then there is a good chance you've already heard this song. The Bristol five piece start In Motion in a big way here with this superb song about the ridiculous standards that all forms of social media make you think that you need to reach and how it's good to step away from it occasionally. The Run Up have always been great at finding positives in a negative scenario and they do the same here. On this occasion, it's realising that you don't have to reach these standards and just being happy with who you are. The final gang vocals are one of the most powerful moments of the entire album as the band shout "a portrait of life, that you know, we can never live up to." The following song, Grip, continues the theme of self-realisation. This time Larry sings about trying to please everyone else instead of worrying about yourself and discovering you will be happier if you do that. Musically the band take a bit of a backseat on the track, allowing Larry to belt out the verses before really coming in for the chorus. The third song, titled Your Omission, looks at how people with the closest of relationships can sometimes drift apart because of different life experiences. I'm certain this is something most people will relate to in one way or another, sometimes without even realising it. It feels like one of the more emotional Run Up tracks, the whole tone feels quite sad as they look back on good times that will never be repeated.
Starting a bit backwards with the fourth track Discretion – when I first heard it, the thing that really stood out was the amazing harmony section that sets up the song’s ending. I loved this. Discretion is about things coming to an end earlier than expected. The opening guitars from Charlie Parsons and Laurence Nelson give the song a great pop sound from the start and, when Larry gets going with his vocals, the song sounds absolutely massive. They also play around with some distortion during the track, giving an atmospheric, haunting feel. The opening of Sunsets fills the track with this infectious energy that had me excited to see where the song would go. Rather than being the fast paced banger that I was expecting, things actually slow down a little bit and morph into this huge sounding track about having fantastic experiences with your loved ones but also being mindful of their feelings about them. There's the anthemic quality that The Run Up excel at in full effect on Sunsets which will get you singing along in no time at all. Check brings us to the halfway point of In Motion. It allows (now former) drummer Harry Holder to really show off his skills during the song’s opening with a pounding drumbeat before some buzzing guitars join him and the song really starts. The drums really stand out throughout the song, providing a superb spine for the rest of the band to work off of. It's about being honest and communicating properly as it's the only way to overcome what life throws at you.
The seventh song, Sticky, was a real stand out on my first listen of In Motion. It tells the story of when the band earned the opportunity to play at a big corporate gig last winter but due to some communication errors something that should have been a huge moment for The Run Up ended with them having some sad and bitter memories. I do enjoy an autobiographical song and Larry's lyrics really do a fantastic job in telling how the evening went and how their feelings changed throughout the night. Shields Up follows this and is a song about protecting yourself mentally when you're not feeling your best mentally by putting walls up. This is another mid-tempo Run Up anthem that really comes alive during the chorus. There's some fantastic noodly guitar riffs that add some playfulness to the track and there's another superb display of drumming that keeps the song moving forward. The ninth song, Shady, is about hearing negative rumours about the band how sad it is to hear them from people that they care about. This is one of the most downhearted Run Up songs I've heard. There seems to be a feeling of understandable sadness alongside being really fed up with the situation.
Light It Up sees a more ferocious Run Up song with Larry's voice seemingly at its most gruff. But don't let that fool you, as the song is about realising how lucky you are and being there when anyone needs you. This isn't just a gimmick that The Run Up play up to, this really is the type of people they are. Real good, stand up guys who are always accepting, up for a chat and willing to help if they can. The song starts in a hard and quite intense way but, as it progresses, the song moves towards a big powerful sing-along that I can already see a crowd of passionate people adoring. The penultimate song on In Motion is titled The Run Up. The song looks into the pressures of being in a touring band and trying to keep normal relationships going when you're away from home as well as remembering to follow your own dream and not get mixed up in somebody else's. I really like this as a subject for a song, it's not one you hear regularly but it must be something a lot of bands go through. Larry sings about understanding that at some point people will have to leave the band and they'll always accept that decision. ADAC is the final song on the album, starting out with some feedback accompanying a dreamy guitar riff before the song starts proper. If you're aware of The Run Up's history as a band, then you will probably know how bad their luck with vans can be when they're on tour. This bad luck has made them stronger as a band but, more importantly, as friends. Finding companionship in the midst of stress and disaster is good for the brain. The overarching message of the song is about how if you work together through the bad times you can overcome anything. This is the kind of positive message I fully expect The Run Up to finish an album with.
Simply put, this is The Run Up's best album yet. Everything about this record seems to see the band going up another level – from the songs, to the musicianship, the vocals and the production. The Run Up have been working their socks off for a while now, building up such a passionate and loving group of fans and friends, and In Motion is going to expand that group.
Follow The Run Up on Bandcamp here: https://therunupuk.bandcamp.com/
Like The Run Up here: https://www.facebook.com/therunupuk
This review was written by Colin Clark.
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