James Vincent McMorrow - We Move
7/10
Fans of McMorrow's 2010 debut Early In The Morning may have had their expectations turned upside down two years ago when follow-up Post Tropical was released. The soulful falsetto voice had switched up a gear, but had left behind the folky guitars and comparisons with Damien Rice and Van Morrison. Instead, an R'n'B influenced vibe arrived, introducing a contemporary electronic edge that seemed to borrow more from the likes of James Blake.
This tangential trajectory continues with We Move, in which arrangements are stripped back and melodies conjoined with lyrics that arrive as fully-formatted ideas. The result is a beautifully subtle collection that starts with an unmistakable 'pop' song, Rising Water, before taking a soulful turn into I Lie Awake Every Night and Last Story. We have to wait another two tracks before we first hear a guitar, at the opening of maudlin spiritual Get Low, challenging and confronting life's choices.
And that is essentially what We Move is about. Choices and options. Potential dilemmas that can become complications or opportunities. Like staying in Ireland, or biting the bullet and travelling to Los Angeles. Or Lost Angles, as the final track is titled. There are no right answers. Only solutions.
7/10
