Move Me+

by Tom SemioliMove Me finds Midge Ure moving seamlessly into the role of a pop/rock elder statesman without sacrificing any of the emotion and fervor of his earlier recordings, both as a solo artist and a member of Ultravox. The album is an amalgamation of Ure's most enduring traits: strong songwriting, soaring melodies, impassioned vocals, tight arrangements, and engaging lyrics. Synthesizers, electronics, and guitars play a prominent role on every track, however, Ure is able to sidestep the 1980s retro label that many of his contemporaries get stuck in by striking an aural balance between taste and overkill. If there is an underlying theme to this record, it's about growing older and coming to grips with life's seemingly never-ending search for happiness and spiritual fulfillment. Touching on a myriad of subjects, from the political climate of Kosovo in the late '90s ("Refugee Song"), America's obsession with bigness ("Spielberg Sky"), to isolation ("Alone") and a yearning for companionship ("Somebody" and "Strong"), Ure is a restless soul that is not about to go quietly into the night. The album's lone instrumental track, "Monster," is a Fatboy Slim-meets-Led Zeppelin sendup worthy of the legendary heavy metal mock-u-mentary band Spinal Tap. This is not necessarily the album to introduce the uninitiated to Midge Ure, but it is a praiseworthy addition to his catalog, and gradually grows on the listener.