(ABC Music/Universal)

Rising singer-songwriter records stellar album – in five days.

In an industry where overproduction and auto-tuning seems almost necessary for mainstream success, it’s heartwarming to be reminded once in a while that there are still artists out there as cool as Brisbane troubadour Andrew Morris. His dynamic fourth effort, Wants And Needs, recorded virtually live in a mere five days with a nine piece band comprising a veritable who’s-who of Victorian musicians, is nonetheless well crafted and polished and showcases Morris’ piano proficiency, moving further away from the guitar-driven, alt-country style of his previous work. The diversity of material on this album is a refreshing difference to the more one-dimensional work of many other singer-songwriters, as Morris’ soaring and emphatic Bernard Fanning-meets-a-less-melancholic-David Gray-style voice brings to life lyrics that reflect on political issues as well as meditating introspectively on life, death, regret and moral defeat. Unlike Mr. Fanning however, Morris’ broad musical influences result in a different musical direction for virtually every track, from piano-driven ballads to brass-infused bluegrass swing/blues, and the rawness and intimacy of the live recording techniques employed make for a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

THOMAS STEVENS

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