LogFAQs > #957113286

41. Dirty Projectors Stillness is the Move (2009)
from the album Bitte Orca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHz8sUpGets

Key lyrics:
After all that weve been through
I know that I will always love you

Dirty Projectors could easily pass as the most hipster of hipster bands, but there is something about Stillness is the Move in particular that resonates on a more accessible level. It is still undeniably odd; the rhythm here is something that expects the listener to adjust to its unusual angles. But so much of the final project feels like a celebration of the female voice. Though typically led by David Longstreth, he takes a backseat to Amber Coffman, who shows a range on level with the best pop vocalists.

Stillness is the Move is a love song by way of existentialism, taking most of its lyrics from German film masterpiece Wings of Desire. But like the source material, it takes existentialism as a call to action, a reason to find our own meaning. It suggests a world full of possibility and takes on love as a backbone. The avant-garde elements reinforce this idea, showing the most unfamiliar tones can suggest beauty if given the necessary space to grow. Dirty Projectors refuse to meet halfway, but the reward for getting on their level is unlike anything else.

Though a thing of beauty, Stillness is the Move also has a cool edge. The instrumentation frequently pauses as though stumbling over itself, a remarkable groove that fashions a unique concept for dancing. Every element chases the same auditory high as Coffmans voice, achieving a rare serenity. This is pop music as an endpoint, the result of a musical madman reflecting on the past several decades of music and shooting for an inimitable but engaging sound. Stillness is the Move is a shimmering monolith.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/