A Promising New Direction

For those who are familiar with the Cincinnati-based music project White Williams, their front man Joseph Williams is back. This time going under the title Motion Graphics, Williams has toned down the dream pop sound of his previous works, instead bringing a lo-fi symphony that leaves the listener floating. In this self-titled album, Motion Graphics is characterized by a soft bass that becomes layered with organic tones, causing one to almost believe that Williams has recorded the sounds of an electric jungle. This debut album shows the promise and the creativity that Williams possesses.

When listening to the album in its entirety, we are given the notion of world travel. Each track seems to pull from the cultural influence of a different part of the world. Contrary to the rock structure of Williams’ previous works, Motion Graphics exhibits an almost chaotic percussion. This might sound unappealing, but Williams makes it work by creating an aura of a drum circle that comes together with a natural rhythm. With all these changes to his sound, Williams has not lost himself. Though his previous albums and his latest release exist in separate genres, they both possess an underlying grooviness that resonates with the listener and touches the soul.

The sound of Motion Graphics is undeniably fantastic and interesting, but some of its tracks drag on. “City Links” creates a neutral buoyancy that pacifies in a way that creates a restlessness and gives one the need to break the tranquility. A few of the album’s tracks carry this softness and the mood has a definite time and place to be desired. A listener keen on meditation and looking inward might find that these tracks feel right at home.  However, those who prefer a wider spectrum of auditory metamorphoses may get lost within these softer tracks and find themselves craving something more upbeat.

Motion Graphics shows the creative flexibility of Joseph Williams. Each tone has character and adds a dimension to the track, albeit not as much as one would like. Most of the tracks start soft and keep that softness for their duration. Though the album combines complex sounds and creates interesting rhythms, its tracks fail to hold the listener’s attention all the way through. This aside, Williams has shown his potential in the electronic genre and we can all look forward to what is to come from Motion Graphics. This album may not hit on everyone’s taste of electronica, but there is a certain beauty and softness that can be appreciated and for which Williams should be commended.