With their third full-length, Tiny Moving Parts have crafted their best record yet. Back again are the familiar heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics, Dylan Mattheisen’s unique and constantly innovative style and Billy Chevalier’s intricate and always evolving drums. This time, though, the Minnesotan trio’s musical prowess is matched by a huge increase in production quality, meaning that ‘Celebrate’ elevates Tiny Moving Parts to the heights they’ve always shown signs of reaching.
Previously released songs ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Headache’ showed a tighter, catchier Tiny Moving Parts, without losing any of their trademark innovation. As good as they are at weaving a chorus that will stick in your head for days, Mattheisen and the Chevalier brothers also have the ability to burrow their way under your skin and make their way right to your broken heart. “I’m an example of a lost human being, maybe what moves you is what’s moving me” Mattheisen exclaims in ‘Birdhouse’ in a moment of emotional fragility.
This sense of isolation is prevalent throughout the record, ‘Common Cold’ (featuring Foxing’s Conor Murphy) and closer ‘Minnow’ just two examples of Mattheisen’s search for meaning in his loneliness. ‘Volumes’ is a song written for anyone who has tried to drink away their feelings, with the chorus a perfect encapsulation of those moments when it feels like alcohol is the only solution, with Mattheisen also highlighting the futility of this.
‘Celebrate’ is a wonderful record, and one that should see Tiny Moving Parts winning over countless new fans. The production leap has undoubtedly helped the band sound that bit tighter, but Tiny Moving Parts have also written their most accomplished songs to date. Also, any band that uses a goddamn vibraslap (twice!) on a record deserves the ‘Album Of The Year’ award on that alone.
CONOR MACKIE