Leeland - Love Is On the Move

Producer:  Ed Cash & Steve Wilson
Record Label:  Essential Records
Website:  http://www.leelandonline.com

Leeland quickly made a name for themselves with the release of 2006’s Sound of Melodies - an album with energetic and modern worship music.  It was so modern sounding that it was hard to even pigeon-hole it as worship or pop.  The band released their sophomore album last spring - Opposite Way.  The album was a nice follow-up, but it didn’t really elevate the band to new levels and failed to score a break-out single like “Tears of the Saints” was for their debut.  The group is now releasing their third record in just a year and half’s time after the release of Opposite Way.  The new record, titled Love Is On the Move, finds the band going down similar music territory as their first two records - Brit-rock reminiscent of acts like Coldplay and Keane or acts like Phil Wickham in the Christian market.  Love Is On the Move is again extremely vertical oriented - focusing on worship or just the very nature and presence of God.  The album kicks off with the catchy pop/rock of “The Door” before moving into one of the album’s highlights - “Follow You” - which features new Christian music “it” guy Brandon Heath.  The song is already making waves at radio and could be the kind of break out tune the band is needing for this record.  Elsewhere, the band seems to have kicked things up a notch (whereas they tend to be pretty ballad heavy on previous projects) - and there’ s alot of more radio-friendly tunes here - like “Carry Me On Your Back,” “Lift Your Eyes Up,” “Learn to Love,” and the aforementioned “The Door.”  “Via Dolorosa” is a strikingly beautiful ballad that speaks of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross - while “Love Is On the Move”  - a lyrical highlight - speaks of the Holy Spirit’s moving in the lives of every kind of individual through us by Christ’s love.  “Holy Spirit Have Your Way” is a strong album closer and a simple worship song that should go over well in concert.  Overall, Leeland doesn’t cover much new ground musically or lyrically - but they do what they do so well that it’s hard to really complain about that.  Leeland Mooring has written some of his strongest lyrics on this release (“Follow You,” “Via Dolorosa,” “Love Is On the Move”), and that alone is worth mentioning,  Love Is On the Move is a great release from one of Christian music’s most promising acts.