Early In the Morning

iTunes Review

Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow performed and recorded all the songs himself on this impressive full-length debut. Recorded over several months at a cottage near the sea, the setting perfectly matches the introspective and isolated mood of the album. The simple and warm recording style features gorgeous multi-tracked harmonies throughout, especially on the gripping opener, “If I Had a Boat,” and the focus is on McMorrow’s captivating voice which alternates between a soulful falsetto and a breathy tenor. The songs are supported by spare arrangements using guitars, keyboards, a stripped-down drum kit, and the occasional banjo. Most are imbued with a hushed beauty that accentuates the stirring lyrics and strong melodies (“Hear the Noise That Moves So Soft and Low,” “This Old Dark Machine,” “Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree”), while others start quietly before building to a crescendo as on “We Don’t Eat,” “Sparrow and the Wolf,” and “From the Woods.” Fans of Iron & Wire, Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver and other creators of intimate bedroom folk will surely appreciate Early In the Morning.