Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
British rock band Thunder’s Songwriter, guitarist and producer, Luke Morley returns with his third solo album which follows up from his 2023 release, ‘Songs From The Blue Room’.
The first of eleven tracks, `Natural High’ is an upbeat, bluesy affair which has a Bryan Adams kind of feel to it. No distorted guitars here, just a crunchy rhythm that paves the way for Morley’s vocal. The Title track takes the chug of Trex’ `Get It On’ and builds on it with a sassy swagger that Jagger would be proud of and lays down a great chorus.
`Breathe’ takes glorious, chorused guitar parts, and explodes into a memorable rock track that shows Morley is no slouch vocally whilst also ripping up the fretboard. We go all country with `Texas’ as an acoustic guitar kicks out the backbeat and harmonicas wail. This gentle but beautiful track illustrates a different side to Morley.
`Always A Saturday Night’ brings with it a taste of Tom Petty as this mid-tempo track trips along. We return to the Midwest and acoustic guitars with `Gun To Your Head’ which is initially very middle of the road until Morley unleashes a stunning solo and the track takes off.
Returning to full fat rock guitar comes `Snakeskin Parachute’ with its slightly punky riff that is truly infectious. This could well be the high point of this release! Things calm down as `Forever And Again’ slows the pace but never really gets going.
The Trex vibe returns as the 70s flavoured stomper, `Bullets’ struts its stuff. Some of the sweetest blues guitar comes with `Don’t You Cry Now’. Morley is in full Moore/Santana mode as he makes his guitar cry out on this track.
The final track, `In Your Light’ is just Morley in folky mode and an acoustic guitar. He pours his heart out here and brings things to a close.
Don’t expect out and out blazing rock tracks in the Thunder vein here as you’ll be disappointed. What you will get is well thought out songs with equally inspired lyrics that explore a raft of different genres from Glam, through to punk, country and everywhere in between.
Morley’s voice has at times a tinge of Glen Campbell with its warm, smooth delivery and sits just right with these tracks. Certainly, an album that grows on you with each play.
For all tour tickets go here: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/luke-morley/
