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.Adrian Gurlitz - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
John Mayall - 1933-2024
Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Anita Pallenberg - The Story of Anita Pallenberg
Norman Rodger - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
Autumn 1904 - With The Normans and Eve Davidson, The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, 1/11/2024
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesJules Winchester - The Journey
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Popstar - Obscene
Richard Hawley - In This City You Call Love
Deep Purple - =1
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
GaBlé - PIck the Weak
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