Morrissey & Marshall - And So It Began... (Independent
Records Limited)
 |
| Morrissey & Marshall - And So It Began... |
Release Date: 31st March 2014
Now here's a story you don't hear
as often as you used to. Morrissey and Marshall are a pair of Irish lads who
left the relative comfort of their native Dublin to chance their arm on the
golden streets of London which triggered a period of intensive busking, gigging
and eating of baked beans - through necessity not choice. Nevertheless, their
passion for the music and will to succeed never waned which finds them with a
debut album and a list of impressive support slots including the Magic Numbers
and Sinead O'Connor among others. But what of the music, I hear you ask. Let's
dive in.
The folk blues stomp of opening
track 'And So It Began...' provides the perfect introduction to their twin
vocals and rich harmonies that wrap around the music like a warm, velvety
scarf. There is a more delicate feel to 'Pack Up, Lady' before the shuffling
rhythms kick in and immediately this is a great track for a summer's day drive
in the countryside. There is an authentic feel to the music which is perfectly
exemplified by the lilting folk beauty of 'Old Tree' and In Need Of Guidance'
which starts with a gentle, haunting vibe before building in to full on, impassioned
ballad. As you'll see from the cover art, there is very much a good cop/bad cop
look to the duo and that reflects in the music as the darkness of 'The Last
Four Days' juxtaposes the previous tracks but is no less luscious and richly layered.
Although 'You Are Who You Are' sounds like a shrug in a song title, the subtle
guitars gives the Irish pair the first real chance to show off their perfectly
balanced vocal harmonies and you can't help but think of Simon and Garfunkel
who must surely be influences.
There is a serious amount of Paul
McCartney infused in to the music and lyrics of 'I've Got A Plan' which is not
always a bad thing while 'Song From The
Birds' is total Paolo Nutini but with a smoother vocal and more Hammond organ.
There then follows a short song under the title 'Mantra' which feels incredibly
celtic and should be listened to on a misty morning by the banks of the river
Liffey just before you leave for the new world (man, that's seriously
stereotyping the Irish isn't it? Sorry guys). 'We Are One' picks up the pace
again with a rattling acoustic strum and some simple percussion as the boys beautiful
intertwine their vocals once again. Closing song 'High And Low' revisits that
Beatles vibe without stumbling in to Oasis territory and, despite a subdued
start, ends the album with a rousing rock'n'roll wig out which is never a bad
thing. I was going to make a flippant joke about these guys being a
collaboration between whinging Mancunian Morrissey and Eminem but that would be
doing a disservice to two guys who have worked hard, taken risks and deserve a
crack at the big time. If that fails, they should just go on Britains Got
Talent and make Simon Cowell's head explode. Maybe do that anyway, whatever
happens.
More information: http://www.morrisseyandmarshall.com/