I love reviewing albums of bands I’m not hugely familiar with, so when Movements are releasing a new album it’s definitely worth checking out and let’s see how ‘Happier Now’ shapes up.
‘Pulse’ opens the album and it’s songs like this that annoy me in the fact that I haven’t delved into a band like this earlier. This is great, the big guitars and awesome melody are the perfect album starter. Wait, now we get ‘Dissolve Me’ and this is even better, this is almost like listening to recent nostalgia if you get what I mean, it’s so new but also so familiar and that is a damn good thing. This is really ticking boxes for me so far. ‘Everything Is Fine’ keeps the groove going, I’m truly loving the production vibes on this album, the underlying guitars are a treat to focus on, and that was great right down to the abrupt ending. ‘Happier Now’ is the title track and it always intrigues me how bands pick the song that will name the album, so let’s see if it’s worthy. Shot answer, yes. This more upbeat track drives the meaning of the song home, vocally and the phrasing on this one in the verses really set this one up. OK yes, I’ll allow this one to be the title track, very well done.
‘Flowerbed’ lets me enjoy a very bass driven song before this chorus! Explosive before bringing it back around and with the next verse the bass it joined by guitars and it fills the song out nicely. This might be my standout so far. ‘Back in My Ways’ starts nice and slow for what feels like a soothing ballad and these vocals are so clean, and I know this is building to something, I’ll wait patiently… There we go… 2:50 boom! I love nothing more than when I song changes tempo and it fits perfectly and the just seamlessly did it to drive this one home. ‘Spellbound’ is a nice little interlude, who doesn’t love one of those occasionally, then ‘Ill at Ease’ is far from an interlude as it kicks into full gear almost immediately. That’s a fun hook! Man, I’m loving this album A LOT! This album keeps getting stronger, and I love an overlay vocal and we get one here. Winner. ‘Live by the Sword’ keeps things driving along nicely, then ‘Everyone I’ve Ever Been’ oh man this has just jumped into the lead as my favourite, this is outstanding, now that for me is the song, the way this song is structured and the chorus makes you happy and sad at the same time. Love that balance. Musically I love what they’ve done here, there’s so much going on but it’s not muddled and they just pulled an 80’s on me and faded it out, absolute win in my books!
Two left, so let’s see how they round the album out. ‘Fragile Hands’ is a nice, chilled tune and takes you to tranquil places and is really well placed this far into the album, it powers up and as it then flips at the end and essentially fades into the closer ‘Separate’ soars above everything in that chorus and as it gets loud before you even have time to explode the song is drawn in, this is some exceptional production on this album.
The fact it took me four albums to find Movements somewhat annoys me, for a couple of reasons firstly I’ve missed out on watching them get to where they are with this awesome album, and secondly I’ll need to cancel my plans I had tonight as I’ll have to be at home to listen to the rest of the catalogue. I’m hooked.
An album like this is your reason to scope out and listen to new music, folks. I’ve just found an album that has been added to my favourites of 2026, and one that I’ll be revisiting often. Sometimes an album you need at a certain time finds you like this one did, and I am most definitely Happier Now…
Essential Information:
From: Southern California, USA
Release date: 4 September 2026
Record label: Fearless Records
Produced By: Will Yip
Website: https://movementsofficial.com/
Track Listing:
Pulse
Dissolve Me
Everything Is Fine
Happier Now
Flowerbed
Back in My Ways
Spellbound
Ill at Ease
Live by the Sword
Everyone I’ve Ever Been
Fragile Hands
Separate
