1984 saw a number of important changes and milestones for the band. Nettwerk Records was formed to release the next Moev album. Madeleine Morris left the band and was replaced by Michella Arrichiello. With their new record label and singer on board, the band entered the studio to record Dusk and Desire which was released in 1985. The album was a bit poppier than early releases, and "Took Out the Lace" became a small club hit. (Interestingly, the album was distributed in the US by hip-hop label Profile.)
Through 1986 and '87 all original remaining members of the band left but for founder Tom Ferris. He was joined by new vocalist Dean Russell and bass player Kelly Cook and Anthony Valcic. The band released Yeah, Whatever in 1988, a moody synth record quite removed from the dance-pop of "Took Out the Lace", but reminiscent of their earlier work. After the title track began to climb the college radio charts and receive some MTV support, Atlantic signed Moev in the U.S. The followup single "Crucify Me", a largely instrumental track highlighted by the alienated spoken-word sample "Properly sedated" from the film THX1138, became another club hit charting in both Billboard and Rolling Stone. Further singles "Wanting" and "Capitol Heaven" are fine exemplars for the album, which is driven throughout by strong sampled percussion and ever-present melodic bass guitar lines, often reminiscent of the bass guitar work of New Order's Peter Hook.
Valcic left soon after Yeah Whatever; the remaining trio released Head Down in 1990. The album continued in the vein of Yeah, Whatever but traded the brooding electronic anthems of the former album for a more traditional songwriting approach with a lighter overall tone and more polished production values. Although the majority of the instrumentation for Head Down was still electronic in nature, the feel of the album verged away from the industrial militarism of Yeah Whatever. Notable tracks include "In and Out" (featuring backing vocals by Sarah McLachlan) the title track "Head Down" and the seething heat of "Noise".
Head Down was produced by John Fryer (Fad Gadget, Wire) in 1991. Lead singer & lyricist Dean Russell died tragically in 1994 and Moev took a break while Tom Ferris founded "Econoline Crush", wrote and produced "Waiting For God" and co-wrote "Blackland" with Mike Balch (Frontline Assembly, Ministry).
In 1998 Tom Ferris reignited the MOEV flame with a brand new lineup and recorded the EP "Suffer" which featured several new tracks and remixes. Again featuring female vocals (this time by Ferris' wife Julie Ferris) the band seemed posed to make an astonishing comeback.
In 2010, first longplay in 20 years appeared - Ventilation. 3 years later Ferris couple released One Minute World.
In & Out
Moev Lyrics
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And left a hundred drooling mouths with
Sweetness imagined
Yet so seldom tasted
Broke up and broke down
And left it hanging unfulfilled with
Ectasy in mind
But it's so hard to find
Just can't seem to get inside
I'm in and out again
And on my way
Mensches and mercers
And inner city workers
All dance to your drum
Yet so seldom touch you
Soak up the dim light
And fade right into daylight
Ears ringing from the voice
But no one beside
Tried so hard but I
Just can't seem to get inside
I'm in and out again
And on my way
Stepped in and stepped out
And left a hundred
Drooling mouths with
Sweetness imagined
Yet so seldom tasted
Broke up and broke down
And left it hanging unfulfilled
Tried so hard but I
Just can't seem to get inside
I'm in and out again
And on my way
The song "In & Out" by Moev expresses the feeling of being on the outside looking in, experiencing only a fleeting sense of connection and longing for something deeper. The repetition of the chorus line "I'm in and out again, and on my way" emphasizes this sense of transience and impermanence. The opening verse describes how the singer has left behind "a hundred drooling mouths" with a tantalizing promise of sweetness, but is unable to fully deliver on that promise. This could represent a romantic encounter or a creative aspiration, where the singer is unable to truly connect or fully realize their vision.
The second verse shifts focus to the broader world, with descriptions of different people all "dancing to your drum" but unable to truly touch or connect with what they are experiencing. The line "ears ringing from the voice, but no one beside" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the alienation and disconnection that can be felt even in crowded or noisy social situations. Once again, the singer is unable to fully immerse themselves in the experiences around them, always feeling slightly apart and unfulfilled.
The overall mood of the song is wistful and melancholic, with a sense of yearning for something that remains perpetually just out of reach. The repeated refrain of "tried so hard but I just can't seem to get inside" underscores this feeling of frustration and longing. Ultimately, the song captures the bittersweet feeling of being on the edge of something great, but never quite being able to fully enter into it.
Line by Line Meaning
Stepped in and stepped out
Entered into a situation and then quickly exited
And left a hundred drooling mouths with Sweetness imagined
Left behind people who desired and dreamt of something sweet
Yet so seldom tasted
But that sweetness was rarely experienced
Broke up and broke down
Collapsed emotionally and ended something
And left it hanging unfulfilled with Ecstasy in mind
Left a situation incomplete, with a longing for something wonderful
But it's so hard to find
But that wonderful thing is very difficult to obtain
Tried so hard but I Just can't seem to get inside
Put in a lot of effort but still cannot fully participate in the situation
I'm in and out again And on my way
Entered the situation briefly and left again
Mensches and mercers And inner city workers
People from different walks of life
All dance to your drum
All follow your lead
Yet so seldom touch you
But hardly ever actually interact with you
Soak up the dim light And fade right into daylight
Bask in the soft light and then blend into the brightness of the day
Ears ringing from the voice But no one beside
Hear the singer's voice, but nobody is physically close
Stepped in and stepped out And left a hundred Drooling mouths with Sweetness imagined
Entered and left, leaving many people who dreamed of something sweet
Yet so seldom tasted
But that sweetness was rarely experienced
Broke up and broke down And left it hanging unfulfilled
Collapsed emotionally and left incomplete
Tried so hard but I Just can't seem to get inside
Put in a lot of effort but still cannot fully participate in the situation
I'm in and out again And on my way
Entered the situation briefly and left again
Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.