Austin, Tx based Americana singer-songwriter, producer and sometime session man Gurf Morlix has more than one string to his bow, and he knows how best to use them all. Morlix has a tidy set of albums to his name, his gritty unbending vocal style may for some be a subject of taste but it suits the subject matter he sings about perfectly, as for his reminiscing of his childhood living up in Buffalo you couldn’t find better.
Immediately into this stride, Morlix eases the listener through the raw, vivid times in “Dirty Old Buffalo”. How pollution filled the air as the family drove into the city, recalls life on the darker side of the street, and how the Allman Brothers, living on speed played the blues there onetime. How as a teenager out with a friend looking for kicks came across a guy on a side street with a gun in his waistband.., who on reaching for a cigarette most likely scared the living daylights out of them. Morlix’s lyrics pitch the listener back into times of sepia when such was the smoke from the factory you could cut the air with a knife, and how Buffalo was the rust-belt city on the Borderline.
Brim full of stories, some of personal torment (break-up song “Grab The Wheel” as he questions where we came off the track, and how though he lacked skill in one or two departments he was still too upset to be able to recall the last words she said) and honest to goodness musicianship. His own stellar work on various types of guitar are superbly backed by Texas legend, Rick Richards (drums), Ray Bonneville (harmonica), Gene Elders (violin)
Highlights include bitter tale “Orphan Years”, snappy, funky even “The Dog I Am”…..and with a beautiful understated feel, other than acoustic guitar and finely honed violin “50 Years” has a wondrous muse to it as he looks back to his school days and those who also attended it. Chicago blues piano and chugging beat greet the listener in refreshing fashion on “Dinah”; Morlix and the boys rock out in spirited fashion on the classy roadhouse delight.
“Born In Lackawanna” is also little different instrumentally; this time due to Morlix in the company of busy organ and gritty rhythm burns a deep furrow as once again reflects on the old days, looks back on choices made on leaving high school. One was go work in the local, blast furnace hot as hell and orange haze from the factory cut the air with a knife, back when if you have a strong back you had a job at Bethlehem steel. Gurf’s vocals on first listen may sound a little jolting, unshaven, but don’t be put off because his stories and the depth of emotion input in his voice are top class!
On the minus side, for a long time I kept thinking there is something missing. Was it that he tends to disregard the need to introduce a more varied sound. Ease back a little (maybe throw in an acoustic piece), give the lyrics more time, and not be so intent on grinding it out his thoughts and music. For it took me a little longer than usual to befriend the songs, happily I am now at a place where the more times I hear some tracks the more I understand and like them and become addicted to the melodies!
Maurice Hope