Morganway - Back to Zero
East Anglian Americana rockers Morganway return with their second album, excogitatively entitled 'Back To Zero', but essentially picking up the pre-pandemic baton and running from where they left off after their eponymous debut in 2019. Once again, it is SJ Mortimer's bellowing Joplin-like vocals, together with trademark anthemic choruses and driving guitars, all topped off with Nicole J Terry's nimble fiddle stylings, Matt Brocklehurst's keys and Ed Bullinger's drumming. Together, these define the band's sound – a cocktail of influences which can be traced back to the heady days of Jefferson Airplane and Janis Jolin, the 70's rock of Heart and, of course, the West Coast vibes of Fleetwood Mac. It is little wonder that Morganway have collected such a loyal legion of fans along the way – clearly indicated by the success of their recent UK tour, culminating with a sell out night at Norwich Arts Centre.
Opening track 'Wait For Me' is a ferocious blend of Americana and rock and, like many of the songs on 'Back To Zero', bursting with energy. Add to it the title track, the Embrace-like anthems 'We Were Going Nowhere' and 'World Stopped Running', the layered classic rock rhythms of 'The Man', and the stamina sapping 'Burn Every Page, and you've got your very own Morganway running playlist. And yet, balanced against these are the quieter songs - 'Come Over' a slinky blues ode to independent women written by SJ, and 'The Sweetest Goodbye', a tender ballad with simple piano and violin accompaniment that could easily have escaped from an Adele collection.
But my favourite track on the entire album has to be the gentle 'Brother', a tender closer, written by Callum Morgan for his twin brother Kieran, with its universal sentiments drawn together with highly personal lyrics.
'Back To Zero' is the proof, if proof were needed, that Morganway continue to raise the bar for UK-based Americana bands, and do it in their own inimitable style.
7.5/10
