In our culture we place a lot of focus on the past, and rightly so.
The past doesn’t define us, but often the past reminds us of the things that are important to us and that knowledge gives us the confidence to step into the future. In ancient cultures they used to make monuments or altars in memory of these important things. We live in culture now that doesn’t do that as much. We are a culture of story tellers and troubadours.
This brings us to ‘Northland‘, the latest offering from Kiwi singer/song writer David Lyle Morris, who once again brings his relaxed style to the table….
It seems fitting that David starts the album with looking back and tracing his musical genesis. He gives us a glimpse of how he was shaped by friends and family and events in his life with the song ‘Music in Me’ and ever so gently tips his hat to God to say “But God… through all of this you have placed the music in my heart”.
Those who are used to listening to David ‘s mainly James Taylor-esque acoustic style will be pleased to know that there is plenty here to keep you happy, with tracks like ‘After a While’ and ‘I am yours’. These tracks are simply crafted and beautifully played.
A special track and a real highlight of the album is ‘Bluebird’ – the song full of sorrow and promise all wrapped in one beautiful package. ‘Bluebird’ poetically balances the tensions of the tough times here on Earth with the promise of the freedom of Heaven. This is something that often is mentioned to me about David’s music… how he can take such a tough subject like suffering and death or sickness and place it a real positive light. It’s a tough thing to do however David is able to do it tenderly without making sound cheesy or trivial.
One of the first things that grabbed me about this album was “wow the boy’s found the blues again… and he makes it rock too.”
David fills his latest offering with sound from his past.
You’ll hear sounds influenced by Dire Straights on tracks like ‘Somewhere Someone’ and also some great blues influenced rock shining through on this album too. ‘What Goes Up’ could easily fit into the mix of a Stones album or maybe even ZZ Top.
Guitarist Teemu Viinikainen really takes the lead on these rockier tracks and forms a great platform of groove and drive for David to sit upon. You know a guitarist understands the brief of the songwriter when you find yourself saying “Mmmm niiice” against your will.
Once again David is able to help craft an album that tells a story…. a story of love, of life, of the loss of his homeland New Zealand and his friends in other far-flung countries.
I love the mixture of David’s hallmark acoustic style and a rockier edge that is showcased on this album, especially the really bluesy feel that shines through.
With David I love how the tracks aren’t perfect. That in itself is perfect. It lends to you hearing the emotion and tension of any individual track…. that’s what you want.
You want real life… you want authentic… you want heart… and when an album is over produced you don’t get that.
Welcome to the journey.
Past and present, light and dark… packaged in this beautiful album.
Christopher Geldard
Taiga Music 