Indie Launchpad Review 6 August 2006 By Colin Meeks
Album - Psycho Surfin' - The Morrisons
Rating : 7.5 out of 10
Although initially misleading with both the title and the title track intro, this isn't an album that harkens back to the days of Jan and Dean or the Beach Boys. It does however owe more than a passing debt of gratitude to the Byrds. You remember them, they were the dudes that sang arguably one of the best Bob Dylan covers ever, "Mr Tambourine Man", which was also covered by William Shatner, yes that Star Trek guy, but we don't like to talk about that. Yes the jangly guitars are there, but the vocal styles is quite different, reminding me more the 80s indie scene. So yes quite an interesting mash up, but it works particularly well.
There's 14 tracks on the album, but 2 of those comprise of the Pyscho Surfin; into and outros, which weigh in at nearly a minute each and actually seem a bit misplaced compared to the rest of the album, but still pleasant in themselves. There's a couple of songs that made for interesting listening, but the album as a whole was thoroughly entertaining. "Southbound Train" has all the familiar Byrds hallmarks. "Grab the Key" and "The Whistle Blowers Daughter" were probably my favorite tracks on the album. There is one track, "Arrow in Your Heart", that for some reason rubbed me up the wrong way. The music itself is fine, but there's something odd about the vocals, which I can't quite put my finger on.
I mentioned earlier the mashup of styles, but I think it's the production that I found most endearing. It's obvious that this is not a big budget album. The production has a very live, rustic feel to it, as do the vocals, but it's got that something that had me smiling, and smiling even more once I realised I was. It's very obvious that these guys are having fun and it radiates from the album.
Conclusion : Certainly something quite different and actually quite refreshing. Lo-fi, but hi-fun.
There's 14 tracks on the album, but 2 of those comprise of the Pyscho Surfin; into and outros, which weigh in at nearly a minute each and actually seem a bit misplaced compared to the rest of the album, but still pleasant in themselves. There's a couple of songs that made for interesting listening, but the album as a whole was thoroughly entertaining. "Southbound Train" has all the familiar Byrds hallmarks. "Grab the Key" and "The Whistle Blowers Daughter" were probably my favorite tracks on the album. There is one track, "Arrow in Your Heart", that for some reason rubbed me up the wrong way. The music itself is fine, but there's something odd about the vocals, which I can't quite put my finger on.
I mentioned earlier the mashup of styles, but I think it's the production that I found most endearing. It's obvious that this is not a big budget album. The production has a very live, rustic feel to it, as do the vocals, but it's got that something that had me smiling, and smiling even more once I realised I was. It's very obvious that these guys are having fun and it radiates from the album.
Conclusion : Certainly something quite different and actually quite refreshing. Lo-fi, but hi-fun.
Psycho Surfin' Album Review Indie Spinzone
Hip-ometer Rating ~ 8.8
Morrisons - "Psycho Surfin"
I had reviewed what was a supposed pre EP to this album some time ago only to find out it wasn't the actual EP that came out (what I got was a CDR sampling of songs from the entire album) so since it didn't represent a real thing I deleted the review. I never heard anymore about it when suddenly this arrived out of the blue one day. Now you may know this band from the Firestation release "The Sound Of Leamington Spa Volume 3" and if you're old you may just remember them from your youth in the 80's. This album is apparently a collection of new, old and never released songs and frankly I couldn't tell them apart because new tracks like This Life sound like they came right out of 1988 anyway. Hailing from that period then this sounds exactly like you'd expect, but it has it's own feel and the band was never trying to be anyone elses clones, so if you like the period you'll most likely love this album. My only problem is the sound is not very good and my copy sounds awfully compressed, but then again I got an advanced CDR copy and it might not even be from the final masters, I just don't know. I believe they are on a "real" label and your copy should be a genuine one that hopefully sounds a lot better but since I cannot say so I am obliged to mention this. (the score I gave it assume your copy will be better as well) The final analysis is this is a band that should have garnered more attention back then and this is a great opportunity to make the last nooks and crannies of your 80's music collection complete.Label ~ Golden Pathway, 14 Tracks, 2005
The Morrisons The Psycho Surfin Sampler Article written by Tom B Feb 22, 2005
The Morrisons first surfaced in 1987 when the late John Peel gave their debut "flexi" single airplay. They didn't last long, disbanding in 1988. A track, "Listen To Your Heart", later surfaced on a volume of the cult indie compilation series "The Sound Of Leamington Spa". Now three members of the original lineup have re-appeared with this demo EP, no doubt on the back of the Firestation records compilation of their previous era material, "Songs From The South Of England", which was released last year. And it's not bad.
The songs all have elements of Beach Boys inspired lo-fi pop. There are also hints of the other musical projects the band are also involved in namely the folky, almost Aberfeldy-ish hooks found on "This Life" and "Hear She's Begun". Not surprising, as some of the band members are involved in the South Devon Folk scene. However they are best when they return to their "indie" roots. "Southband Train" captures these perfectly but it's "Arrow In Your Heart", complete with it's sarah-esque title, which is the stand out track on the EP, soaring away to its heart's, no pun intended, content.
Welcome back!
The EP is an unmastered selection of tracks that will appear on an album release due out later this year on Golden Pathway. In the meantime you can download Southbound Train, as well as another new track "Town After Town", from http://www.indie-mp3.co.uk/blog/2005/01/morrisons.html.
MORRISONS Songs from the South of England CD (Firestation)
The Morrisons were originally a part of the late 80s indiepop underground; they released a flexi, a small label 12" and appeared on a comp tape, but weren't heard of for a long time since. They were more recently rediscovered by Firestation Records (formerly Firestation Tower) who included them on one of their Sound of Leamington Spa compilations and also released this 16 track album which compiles the tracks from their flexi and EP along with a number of demos. The Morrisons' sound is very typical of the era they were from, reminiscent of bands like Mighty Mighty, the Brilliant Corners, and early Orange Juice. The recording quality is often pretty lo-fi, as you'd expect from a collection of demos and flexi tracks, but it's not lo-fi enough to detract from the songs themselves - and lo-fi or not, at least Firestation have rescued these songs from oblivion. Worth investigating, for fans of mid/late 80s janglepop.
The Morrisons are now back together and recording again; I have a CDR EP of their new material, to be reviewed soon. For more info contact the label: info@firestation-records.de.
The Morrisons are now back together and recording again; I have a CDR EP of their new material, to be reviewed soon. For more info contact the label: info@firestation-records.de.
Morrisons - "Songs From The South Of England"
Hip-ometer Rating ~ 9.6
Morrisons - "Songs From The South Of England"
Actually, the first time I ever heard this band was their track on the last Leamington Spa release. (#3) It was the opening track here Listen To Your Heart. God, it's been years, and I can't even really say if the name of this band is familiar or not. It may be, but I had never heard them. There was just too much to buy, and I often didn't get singles back then. My feeling was if it was good, there'd be an album and the songs would be there. I know now that was not the smartest move, but what can you do. It's like the kids before me who stuck Mickey Mantle cards in their bike spokes. 10 grand down the drain.... Quite a bit of this is demo material so the production value is not the best, but as I've had to deal with the same problem with the Chairs release they have my sympathies, and it isn't really too bad here. What stands out immediately is that there is no question when and where this was made. It is the epitome of what would be called C86, even though in many respects I don't care for that term. While the style varies a bit, at times reminding me of Mighty Mighty, then the Chesterfields, then the Brilliant Corners etc... the quality does not. The songs are all catchy, instantly accessible and like most of the material from the period it becomes an old friend after the first listen. I especially love Heaven Help Us Now, it is just FAB. I have commented more than once at my amazement of how many times the 80's can be dredged for lost treasure. It would seem indefinitely as we are not even reaching the bottom yet. Verily it was the golden age, and when confronted by how good the material here is, one can only scratch their heads in amazement at how it wallowed and vanished, never seeing the light of day. We can only thank the modern pop Cousteaus like Firestation who do all they can to bring it back to the surface for us. Don't let this one go astray again.Label ~ Firestation, 16 Tracks, 2004
The Morrisons – Songs From The South Of England
The Morrisons – Songs From The South Of England
Now I was in Torquay a few years ago, and used to frequent Paignton in the early nineties, and there was a singular lack of statues erected to "Torquay's finest band", as they take delight in proclaiming themselves. Maybe it was different in the late eighties when the late John Peel gave airplay to their debut flexi single. Mind you, they split up the following year, so the airplay didn’t seem to do them much good.
But here we are 17 years on, and from the original Morrisons line up Ian Churchward Phil Andrews and Dave Clifford are back together with Guy Bolt on drums, recording new material. But we’re here looking back, and they’ve managed to amass a 16 track retrospective. Not bad, for a band that managed 2 singles in their lifetime.
It’s all very lo-fi, with hints of the fey, California sound that Belle & Sebastian were to put to good use later on. Naturally, being the mid-eighties, there’s far too much sub Byrdsian jangle, but they can’t be blamed for that, everyone was doing it at the time, even Primal Scream!
The best tracks are the EP tracks, ‘Storm’, ‘Lament’ and ‘Travellin’ Boy’, which are the full, finished article. With the rest being mainly demos, there’s only so much rough and ready you can take at one sitting. But there is an undeniable songwriting know-how at work on a lot of the numbers, and some money and a decent producer could have seen them breaking free of the C86 mundanity.
Losing Today Review Of The Psycho Surfin' Sampler
The Morrisons ‘The Psycho Surfin Sampler’ (The Golden Pathway). Now we are going to hang our heads in shame and admit to not really recalling this lot when they were originally around (now I feel real guilty) but hats off to Germany’s Firestation records for unearthing their wares for last years ‘Songs from the South of England’ set and an appearance on the ‘Leamington Spa’ compilation series. The Morrisons originally burned briefly bright in the mid 80’s, a flexi disc set being well received by a certain John Peel at a time when it seemed the whole Sarah records thing had mushroomed wildly spawning jangling easy on the ear melodies from here to Melbourne. Disbanding in 1988 to go their separate ways the new found interest brought to bear by Firestation it seems hasn’t gone unnoticed amongst the band as a result they’ve reformed, well three out of four of the original members have at least. Don’t for a second be fooled by the EP’s title, this is anything but ‘surf’, instead what you get is an arresting pedigree of lazing summer days breezy folk pop that some of you may prefer to call twee just check out the gentle pastoral canter of the closing cut ‘Hear she’s gone’. Four tracks busting with hand holding effervescence, tumbling chords that nibble with the distinct loving aura of the more mellowed C-86 brigade to tweak between the jangle happy Byrds and the dusty back water country folk pop of Moviola especially on the opening cut ‘Southbound Train’ which is charmed with an almost casual come as you please demeanour. What you notice immediately about the Morrisons is their apparently unfussy approach to their compositions, there’s something certain and evidently welcoming just take for instance the smoothed classicism of ‘This Life’ which unexpectedly veers from what initially appears like an radio friendly AOR roustabout into a smarting sun drenched breeze popper with subtle washes of the Go Betweens and the Mighty Lemon Drops gently rippling beneath the surface or the way the harmonica drenched ‘Arrow in your heart’ drifts into your listening space with such unerring simplicity and softness a track you feel could easily find a loving home over at Matinee records given that there’s the vague taste of the Lucksmiths and the Liberty Ship breathlessly drifting throughout. Captivating stuff.
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