Sometimes, just sometimes, it becomes impossible, almost pointless, to think of a whimsical and slightly amusing headliner to draw you, the reader, in. Sometimes, just sometimes, all that needs to be said is that the album that is about to be introduced is so good, so special, that whimsy should be set aside. Let’s not cheapen this people. Introducing: James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning.

The recent success of both Bon Iver and The Villagers has shown that people are still in the mood for good old indie-folk-pop, if the emphasis is on the storytelling (and less of the pop). But before we get to what is a fascinating album, let’s meet the man behind the voice. James is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from Dublin. Supported by EMI (and a suitable beard), Early In The Morning is James’ full debut building on two previous EPs. Released in Ireland a year ago to critical acclaim, this is only now hitting the shores of the UK, USA and Canada. Having been shortlisted for the Choice Music Prize in his native land it is about time we are having the pleasure too, and what a pleasant surprise it is. 

Grabbing your attention from the start, track one draws you straight in with a 5-part harmony that is mesmerising and showcases James’ impressive falsetto (‘If I Had A Boat’). Dragging you in like an evil spell, the music becomes incidental to the haunting vocals that dwell on change and transition (“once I had a dream, it died long before/ now I’m pointed north, hoping for the shore”).  ‘From the Woods!!’ plays a similar trick with the banjo and drums playing a bit-part to James’ ethereal vocals. Lyrically dark (“Bound by tape, and by wire/Bruised and beaten in the fire”) and strikingly inventive it is a stand out track. 

However, it’s not all haunted stuff. Indeed, some of this starts to fill you up with more pop than you might stomach (without a coronary). Nevertheless, every time this goes a bit ‘James Blunt’ (‘This Old Dark Machine’) it is pulled back with a striking lyric or vocal gymnastic that illuminates the tracks and rescues this. Above all, one of McMorrow’s strengths appears to be constructing warmly nostalgic acoustic tracks such as ‘We Don’t Eat’ (“We don’t eat until your father’s at the table/We don’t drink until the devils turned to dust”) or ‘Hear The Noise That Moves So Soft and Low’ (“and time, time we lost is resting on the stairs”). Mixed together with more upbeat tracks, such as the Mumford and Son’s-esque ‘Sparrow and Wolf’, this is an album of homely light and mysterious shade.

Sometimes, just sometimes, it becomes impossible, almost pointless, to think of a whimsical way to sign off a review. Sometimes, just sometimes, all that needs to be said is that the album that was introduced was so good, so special, that whimsy should be set aside. This is indie folk deserving of your time. - Matt Coxon

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