THE R.G MORRISON - ?LEARNING ABOUT LOATHING? (Drift Records)
Is it really so bleak out there in the Devon countryside? Listening to R.G Morrison you?d come to the conclusion that, yes it certainly was. But not in a bad way - oh no sir. The bleak we?re dealing with here is of the ?uplifting, everything will be alright? kind.
Now that?s a difficult enough task to put across in a song at the best of times - but considering these 8 songs are actually the first the 24 year old R.G Morrison ever wrote, makes it very impressive indeed. As well as being his first record, it?s also the maiden release for himself and fellow musician Johny Lambs independent label Drift Records.
The first thing you notice before you even play this album is the care that?s gone into the CD packaging, with the disc enclosed in a brown envelope and sealed with a unique personalised wax stamp. It seems a shame to even open it. Eventually though you snap out of it - the seal must be broken.
As for the important part - the music itself. Upon listening it firstly grabs you at just how confident it all comes across, while production wise, less is most definitely more. Being recorded in a church really seems to add something to the overall feel of the recording - a somewhat intimate atmosphere that?s enhanced with the sparse instrumental backing of fellow musician Johny Lamb (he of Actress Hands, Thirty Pounds of Bone, The Small), as well as the addition here and there of a string section. Lyrically speaking, the songs here deal with everything from love, loss, yearning, hope and redemption. Touchy subjects that if written about wrongly can end up sounding contrived and cliched - but thankfully that?s not the case here.
Things kick off with the title track - which proves to be a great taster for what the rest of the record has in store. By means of an introduction a lonely snare drum and gentle strum of a guitar are soon joined by slow fuzz bass for the verse, and upon the arrival of the chorus so does the synth - by now we?re in distinct uplifting territory - all aided by Morrisons soft, yet pained vocals. Throughout the course of the record influences are clearly scattered around - one such being Nick Drake on the fingerpicked guitar tune ?Summer Bride? - complete with a beautifully arranged, but not overpowering string section.
An eerie one note drone and the tolling of a church bell signals the arrival of ?Funeral For a Foe?, that minus the clever production and arrangement would be an average, but noneless pleasant song. Producer Steve Grainger obviously had other ideas. In just under three minutes you get all sorts of instrumental madness built around the guitar and vocals of Morrison. Infact there?s so much going on that I wont attempt to pick it apart - just believe me - its wonderful. Listen for yourself.
Following this comes the upbeat moment of the record - which turns out to be a song apparently written about Abraham Lincoln - titled ?Kentucky?s Favourite Son?. Coming complete with hand claps and whistles - its like the world is suddenly a lovely place once again and all your troubles are lost. Strangely it sits so out of place on this record that it actually works. Wonderful.
The seven minute ?Ruder Me? is simple, beautiful and full of yearning - guitar, piano and cello being all that?s needed, while album closer ?In Out? has a whiff of summer and positivity about it - and harmonies that would make Teenage Fanclub weep into their pints of Tennants.
Right - so not your average acoustic folk record then I hear you say. Damn right its not. Inventive, atmospheric, sentimental etc. it does all the right things a record of this type should. Whether its the production or the fact it was recorded in a church - I just don?t know - but you get the impression that if you close your eyes they could be sitting in the corner playing live in your room, yet at the same time there?s? a grand, big sound to it all. Don?t worry, I?m confused as well. Sublime stuff however you look at it. Be sure to keep one eye on R.G Morrison this year - as well as the movements of Drift Records. If this is anything to go by then there?s great things on the horizon.
Is it really so bleak out there in the Devon countryside? Listening to R.G Morrison you?d come to the conclusion that, yes it certainly was. But not in a bad way - oh no sir. The bleak we?re dealing with here is of the ?uplifting, everything will be alright? kind.
Now that?s a difficult enough task to put across in a song at the best of times - but considering these 8 songs are actually the first the 24 year old R.G Morrison ever wrote, makes it very impressive indeed. As well as being his first record, it?s also the maiden release for himself and fellow musician Johny Lambs independent label Drift Records.
The first thing you notice before you even play this album is the care that?s gone into the CD packaging, with the disc enclosed in a brown envelope and sealed with a unique personalised wax stamp. It seems a shame to even open it. Eventually though you snap out of it - the seal must be broken.
As for the important part - the music itself. Upon listening it firstly grabs you at just how confident it all comes across, while production wise, less is most definitely more. Being recorded in a church really seems to add something to the overall feel of the recording - a somewhat intimate atmosphere that?s enhanced with the sparse instrumental backing of fellow musician Johny Lamb (he of Actress Hands, Thirty Pounds of Bone, The Small), as well as the addition here and there of a string section. Lyrically speaking, the songs here deal with everything from love, loss, yearning, hope and redemption. Touchy subjects that if written about wrongly can end up sounding contrived and cliched - but thankfully that?s not the case here.
Things kick off with the title track - which proves to be a great taster for what the rest of the record has in store. By means of an introduction a lonely snare drum and gentle strum of a guitar are soon joined by slow fuzz bass for the verse, and upon the arrival of the chorus so does the synth - by now we?re in distinct uplifting territory - all aided by Morrisons soft, yet pained vocals. Throughout the course of the record influences are clearly scattered around - one such being Nick Drake on the fingerpicked guitar tune ?Summer Bride? - complete with a beautifully arranged, but not overpowering string section.
An eerie one note drone and the tolling of a church bell signals the arrival of ?Funeral For a Foe?, that minus the clever production and arrangement would be an average, but noneless pleasant song. Producer Steve Grainger obviously had other ideas. In just under three minutes you get all sorts of instrumental madness built around the guitar and vocals of Morrison. Infact there?s so much going on that I wont attempt to pick it apart - just believe me - its wonderful. Listen for yourself.
Following this comes the upbeat moment of the record - which turns out to be a song apparently written about Abraham Lincoln - titled ?Kentucky?s Favourite Son?. Coming complete with hand claps and whistles - its like the world is suddenly a lovely place once again and all your troubles are lost. Strangely it sits so out of place on this record that it actually works. Wonderful.
The seven minute ?Ruder Me? is simple, beautiful and full of yearning - guitar, piano and cello being all that?s needed, while album closer ?In Out? has a whiff of summer and positivity about it - and harmonies that would make Teenage Fanclub weep into their pints of Tennants.
Right - so not your average acoustic folk record then I hear you say. Damn right its not. Inventive, atmospheric, sentimental etc. it does all the right things a record of this type should. Whether its the production or the fact it was recorded in a church - I just don?t know - but you get the impression that if you close your eyes they could be sitting in the corner playing live in your room, yet at the same time there?s? a grand, big sound to it all. Don?t worry, I?m confused as well. Sublime stuff however you look at it. Be sure to keep one eye on R.G Morrison this year - as well as the movements of Drift Records. If this is anything to go by then there?s great things on the horizon.
posted by ianc21 at 11:26 am
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