Copeland (In Motion) :: Deeper Devotion

By Todd Kavanaugh

Artist: Copeland

Site: www.thecopelandsite.com
Album: In Motion
Label: Militia Group
Release: 2005
Type: Indie Rock

If you like: Ben Folds, Cool Hand Luke

Love. Where will it lead us? To what end does it move us? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How should we love? These are all questions That Copeland’s singer Aaron Marsh urges us to ask. Marsh defines Copeland’s first release, Beneath the Medicine Tree as an album that is meant to move its listeners. With their sophomore release, In Motion, his purpose was to make listeners move even more.

Emotion fills the lyrics of In Motion as Aaron strives to wrap his pen and voice around the issues of love. Some songs appear to be in reflection of past experience as well as looking forward with hope to what could be. Songs like “Love is a Fast Song” probes into what love has become in our society by contrasting love experienced “fast” with that of love experienced “slow.” In “No one really wins,” Aaron sings from a personal reflection as he discusses how we should act as a loving church.

Musically, Copeland shows great talent and potential, but with a hint of the possibility of fading into indie rock obscurity. Despite this threat, Copeland, unlike many emo-indie bands, does not stick to dark progressions, but brightens the mood with a varying style from song to song.

Aaron’s vocals flow subtly along with the orchestral and piano accompaniment, which add strength to the atmospheric blend of the musical elements and provide a fitting vehicle to the message of his voice. A few ballad-like piano songs are interspersed throughout the album and prove to open up Aaron’s vocals without masking the rock elements.

Generally, I would not consider this an album to roll your windows down and crank up the volume, unless you are in a reflective mood. Yet, with this being said, it is the delicate variation of song and sound that bears a constant theme that we can all relate to that makes this album a strong sophomore release for a band that proves that it has much to offer.

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