Chris Morphitis - Where to Go
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 17 / 12 / 2013
Label:
Village Green
Format: CD
intro
Improvisational and diverse debut album from songwriter, composer and producer, Chris Morphitis
Prior to this debut album 'Where To Go' Chris Morphitis had performed and recorded with Simon Bookish, Mara Carlyle, the Owiney Sigoma Band, Damon Albarn and Elmore Judd. Inspired by for example the guitar music of Thomas Mapfumo, he blends minimalism with joyous improvisation. The cunning fusion of abstract folk, sonic rock, calm sirtaki, startling piano play and lazy chimurenga have resulted in an utterly pleasant album of likewise styles, no matter the geographical incongruity. The elegant track 'Embrace' with the gentle cello of Ian Burdge marks Chris Morphitis' much broader horizon than just 'worldbeat' music. Like a pleasant forest stream, 'Yellow Lines' carries on down that path of elevated tranquility. 'Peel Feel' once again incorporates an abstract take on the call-and-answer instrument play of West-African music. On 'If S2' we land in London though but the tone hardly changes, even when menacing sonic bursts come out like rumbling M25 noise. By combining patterns of harp-like music from West-Africa with the rhythmic snare picking of Zimbabwe on 'Coat Tails', he hints at his unique skills as a performer and a music arranger. As a composer Chris Morphitis seems of the timid kind but great promise, however, lies in a number of tracks. There is plenty of tension and melodic imagination on 'If S2', 'The Count' and 'Embrace' and 'Timelapse'. Chamber music nature filters through on the latter, but it can't conceal how much of a musician's album this is. A throughout daring and wonderful exercise nonetheless, 'Where to Go' comes to a climax on the title track where structure, composition and performance all fall in the right place naturally.
Track Listing:-
1 The Count2 Claustro
3 Embrace
4 Yellow Lines
5 Timelapse
6 Peel Feel
7 If S2
8 Where To Go
9 Coat Tails
10 Chartwell
Band Links:-
http://villagegreenrecording.co.uk/artists/chris-morphitisLabel Links:-
http://villagegreenrecording.co.ukhttps://twitter.com/VGSoho
https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreen-139775769444339/
https://www.youtube.com/user/villagegreen181/feed
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Doug Dillard Expedition - Live At The Hotel Fremont, Las Vegas, September 1970
Beat Featuring Ranking Jnr - Sala Jerusalem, Valencia, 18/2/2024
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Byrds - Every Album, Every Song
Sami Sumner - Interview
The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Editorial - May 2024
Dodson and Fogg - Movement In The Exterior World/Music For Strange and Mysterious Stories
Zombies - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadHillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pearl Jam - Dark Matter
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Sami Galbi - Dakchi Hani
Burial - Dreamfear
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes - Dark Rainbow
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart