Alexi Murdoch Update

Alexi Murdoch, who after making possibly the most tantalizing EP in history made fans wait four full years for the subsequent long player, has, after almost that length of time again, graced us at last with more musical blessings. 'Toward the Sun' is a limited release, only 5000 were pressed, and is available at his shows or by order through his website (a site which still advertises 'Time Without Consequence' as "The New Album". Apparently he takes his album titles quite literally...). I came across my copy by the grace of my sister, who I talked into attending one of his shows. A live experience which, in my opinion, is unparalelled in terms of intimacy and beauty.

As much as I love the guy, Murdoch has kind of put himself between a rock and a hard place here. When the 'Four Songs' EP became the number one selling record in CDbaby.com history, expectations were already high for the album to follow. By allowing four years to then pass in the making, one of two things was bound to happen for any given fan: they would forget about him, or they would come to expect an album of pure perfection. Needless to say, he delivered on pure perfection; ensuring that no one will make the mistake of forgetting about him again. And thus, here we are another four years later, expectations raging.

(Sidenote: Honestly has there ever been a better EP than 'Four Songs'? I still listen to it completely seperate from the album. Frusciante's DC EP? Lazy Line Painter Jane? Does the Fiery Furnaces EP even count? Yes, 'Sun Giant' is pretty great, but nothing touches 'Four Songs'.)

It is hard to categorize exactly what 'Toward the Sun' is meant to be. At 7 songs and 37 minutes, it is about 20 minutes longer than AM's EP and about 20 minutes shorter than the album. I have heard rumors that this is something of a demo for the album to come, and based on the production that could very well be true. While 'TWC' was very slick, with sometimes dozens of instruments skillfully woven into lush backing mixes, 'TtS' is consistently much simpler and more straightforward, with usually no more than a few acoustic guitars and a drum. 'TtS' also differs in that it has a much warmer feel, as if everything on the album was mic'd and digital processing was kept to a minimum. As a result there is nothing here that goes down quite as smooth as "All My Days" or "Blue Mind", and the warmer nature only ensures, as if they haven't already, that the Nick Drake comparisons will further abound. It will be interesting to see if these changes carry on into the official release or if they are for the sake of the "demo" only. Another interesting observation: a chief difference between 'FS' and 'TWC' was the presence of female harmony on the EP, and almost no harmony whatsoever on the album. It may be inconsequential, but on the chorus of 'TtS's "Some Day Soon" there is a very soft, almost barely audible in fact, female unison...

Lyrically, Murdoch is in much the same vein as we found him before. Verses regurlarly concerning family, dreaming, light/dark, metaphorical burdens, shining, and kindness. (Sample lyric, off "Her Hands Were Leaves": "See my brother he is walking in the sun/His back is bare he carries no burden for anyone/See the island, the silver line/Brother how you shine".) Murdoch still isn't the type to turn a phrase sharp enough to find its way onto your facebook page, but his lyrics remain the vital part of his music. With many acts, you will find yourself analyzing the lyrical quality seperate from the musical quality. With Murdoch however they are one in the same. His lyrics and voice are so natural, so simple, and yet bear such honest truth, that their slow, steady and gentle cadence, seem to eminate from a purer place than any contrived human mind. They seem to eminate from the same place that the musical notes themselves do, making the relationship of the guitar to his words inseperable. On "Through The Dark" he sings "You need someone to hear you when you sigh/Someone to wipe away those tears you cry/Someone to hold you 'neath the darkened sky/Someone to love you more than I". He gets recalls Dylan again on highlight "Some Day Soon" when he sings, "I love my father and I love him well/I hope to see him someday soon/And in the morning I'll be gone/Where for to cannot be told".

When closer, the 9 minute "Crinian Wood" comes on, naturally everyone is expecting the next "Orange Sky". Unfortunately these are promises that are most likely impossible to deliver on. 'TtS' is a solid batch of well written, performed, and distinctly Murdoch tunes, but whether they meet or surpass those that have come before them will have to be to the listeners discretion. I hate to say to "expect more of the same" because of the connotations it carries, but essentially thats what we have here. Luckily "the same" is this good. When you first dip into these tunes however, don't expect your life to be changed all over again for a second time. As of yet no one can say for sure whether this is what we'll be hearing from Murdoch come release time, or whether it will be in completely different form. Either way it sure has me excited.