OFFICIAL: http://chrismurphymusic.com/
VIDEO: (“Cape Horn”) http://chrismurphymusic.com/video/
Written
by David Shouse, posted by blog admin
Chris
Murphy’s musical journey defines passion. Rather than contenting himself
reworking folk and country standards for his violin, Murphy is an accomplished
songwriter who performs original material. He records often, plays live as much
as possible, and passing on his musical knowledge to future generations in his
role as an instructor. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who felt the drive to learn
multiple disciplines so that he might better satisfy his creative impulse.
Murphy isn’t an artist who seeks merely to pay loving tribute to the past;
instead, his songwriting picks up the mantle of long standing forms and
revitalizes them for modern audiences. His soulful and often literary songs
co-opt traditional language and turn it towards personal use while they remain
accessible to his target audience and prove inviting to any novice listeners.
Hard Bargain, recorded in front of a live crowd, is one of the most memorable
entries yet in Chris Murphy’s discography.
He
begins things from a traditional footing with the largely instrumental opener “The
Caves of Killala” before deciding to lunge for listener’s throats on the second
song. Placing the album’s title cut so early in the running order indicates a
level of confidence we don’t often see with albums, any genre, and the catchy
power of the song can’t be denied. It’s basically a blues of sorts and Murphy’s
voice proves capable of belting it out with the right amount of grit, gravel,
and gravitas. “Bugs Salcido” is one of the album’s high points. The bare bones
musical arrangement gives the unsettled lyric an extra shot of tension and the
winding, almost trance-like vocal melody piles details on the listener that
reveal the story and subject incrementally. “White Noise” and “Last Bridge” are
fantastically catchy rockers masquerading as acoustic tracks and should whet
anyone’s appetite for the day, if it ever comes, that Murphy opts to work with
a full on rock band. The virtuosic violin runs are what truly sets these songs
on fire, particularly the fine “Last Bridge”.
“Prevailing
Winds” is cut from similar cloth but developed in a much more relaxed fashion
than the two preceding songs. The relaxed approach extends to Murphy’s singing
and its easy going charms walk nicely alongside the warm violin playing. “Trust”
is a strong song but, as well, serves as an extended instrumental workout for
Murphy that never feels self0indulgent. It’s always a treat to hear the wide
array of emotions Murphy is capable of manifesting through the instrument. The
final track “Friend”: is one of the most emotionally affecting number on the
album and this desperate lyric benefits from an extraordinarily sensitive,
patient vocal from Murphy that will grip many early on and not let go. It’s an appropriately
beautiful way to end an album brimming over with heart and the spirit of pure
poetry color many of its passages and lines.
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