Two years ago, James Vincent McMorrow decided to take an unorthodox approach to writing his new record. Accompanied only by his thoughts, McMorrow took his instruments, some recording equipment, and only a single microphone with him and moved into a lonely house on the beach. After five months spent in a self-imposed isolation of creativity, he ultimately completed eleven acoustic tracks that would come to be known as "Early in the Morning".
It becomes clear, from the beginning, "Early in the Morning" is a dish best served when your appetite is for relaxing and keeping the volume knob no higher than half way up (i.e. 5.5 for PD). The album opens with "If I Had a Boat", a drifting love song about longing to bridge the gaps of distance, either physical or psychological, narrated by McMorrow's gentle falsetto. This is followed by another delicate ballad, "Hear the Noise that Moves So Soft and Low", a nostalgic, forlorn ode to an extinguished flame. A slight change in tone is found on "Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree", a quietly haunting tune that hits your ears as smoothly as a misted wind. "Down the Burning Ropes" combines eerily beautiful vocals with ominous lyrics, and is a standout cut as well.
The underlying theme of "Early in the Morning" seems to involve the end of a long relationship, followed by mournful reflection, then ultimately walking away, only to continue to look back and never feel comfortable if the bond is completely out of reach. McMorrow creates vivid mental images with his allegory-laden lyrics, and explores the battle between a man's faith versus his desire for personal satisfaction. Each track is then woven together by sprinkles of piano, airy guitar chords, soft percussion, and McMorrow's distinctly graceful voice. Consequently, "Early in the Morning" is tranquil in its entirety, with only a rare attempt at up-tempo flare. So if you're ever in need of suitable music for a peaceful hour of quiet contemplation, this album would be an excellent fit.
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