OFFICIAL: http://chrismurphymusic.com/
VIDEO: (“Cape Horn”) http://chrismurphymusic.com/video/
Written
by Daniel Boyer, posted by blog admin
Chris
Murphy’s newest release, Hard Bargain, allows the talented
multi-instrumentalist and songwriter present new original material in a live
setting, solo, nothing between the audience but his instrument of choice on a
given song and a stomp box that provides all necessary percussive
accompaniment. It is a natural successor to the more formal structure of his
last studio release The Tinker’s Dream insofar as it sees his wayward muse
following a distinctly bluesier direction than we heard on the aforementioned
album. There are a handful of cuts on the album that are solidly commercial
despite the rustic, low-fi surroundings he gives them and Murphy demonstrates a
real flair for writing compelling choruses. It isn’t a quality you normally
associate with this sort of nominally niche music, but Murphy is a songwriter
and performer who transcends any number of boundaries. Hard Bargain is a
gripping piece of musical art from the start and never loses listeners along
the way.
The
title track comes early. Murphy cajoles and coaxes a gusty blues from his
violin with all the required desperation the lyric demands. He brings that same
sense of desperation to his voice, as well, The stomp box, from the first,
helps punctuate everything Murphy does musically and his instincts for using it
seem well nigh unerring. “Bugs Salcido” is even darker than the title track and
finds Murphy brooding at a near drone in the verses and only opening his voices
up for the payoff when he wonders aloud about Bugs Salcido’s death. This is one
of the more original, signature performances on the album and has a shaved to
the bone energy that keeps it humming from the outset. The audience reacts
enthusiastically to the tune and, undeniably, Murphy’s lyrical firepower. “White
Noise” and “Last Bridge” are paired together quite well as they definitely
contend for the most outright commercial sounding songs Murphy’s ever penned.
Both have choruses capable of kicking you in the pants, but it’s the
combination of their airtight swing and catchy hooks that gives them such
impact. Murphy seems inspired by the material as well.
“Prevailing
Winds” shares some similarities, but they are developed at a different pace and
the structural focus is more relaxed. It’s another fine Murphy lyric, indelible
in the sense that you can really only imagine him writing it, and the writing
has a tight control over the balance between general and specific details. Our tendency
is to hear material like this and assume it is autobiographical in nature but,
honestly, it doesn’t matter. Even if the sentiments and situations on Hard
Bargain are total fiction, Chris Murphy delivers them with utter credibility. “Trust”
is a final emotional blast on an album that practically acts and Murphy propels
himself musically through a variety of noticeably different moods without ever
missing a step or making things sound incongruous. This is one of those moments
when everything comes together for a performer and Chris Murphy’s Hard Bargain
will ultimately merit mention with the best song collections ever released by
this wildly talented artist.
No comments:
Post a Comment