Jake Morley, The Strongrooms, 120 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London
4th October 2008
While his Myspace demo provides an awesome acoustic experience, it does nothing to prepare you for the visual adventure that is to be had; Jake Morley has a style and technique that can only be described as virtuoso. Morley plays his guitar on his lap, smashing, knocking and tapping the existence out of the fret board and body.
Morley’s set begins with ‘This City’ a pleasantly soothing track. Immediately, the audience are fooled into believing that his bassist and drummer are hiding around the corner; his obsessive-compulsive string picking and pounding generates the sound of a three-piece band. In admiration of his multi-tasking capabilities, the audience remain glued to the movement of his hands. ‘This City’, lyrically dedicated to the London listener, sensitively grabs the onlooker in the cosy and intimate surroundings of The Strongrooms.
With eclectic beats, Morley’s tunes rhythmically vary from folk-rock through to Latin. ‘Ferris Wheel’ moves full circle; exciting yet subtle in sound.
A personal favourite, ‘Inside My Mind’, switches the eventful guitar-beating drama to something far more melancholy; a gentle love song allows the crowd to step back and pay more attention to his vocals. Comparatively, Morley’s voice is like that of Newton Faulkner, but oozes more soul and husk. The tune demonstrates Morley’s capacity to vary in style and shows off his song writing talents. As Morley sings along to far less elbow/thumb injuring music, his ease of performance allows a wholly moving experience to be received.
Jake Morley dismounts with a roar from the crowd; the ambience reeks of satisfaction and determines the deserved following that he will obtain. Funky, modern, yet retro, Jake Morley presents a confidence that spoils any act to follow.
Morley really does brand his goods as ‘artwork’, by ensuring an experience of a lifetime to be had by all. With superstar quality, he would not seem out of place or uncomfortable at a much larger venue, up against classical musicians, or on the sofa in Jonathan Ross’s green room. Morley encapsulates music, lyrics and an atmosphere that very few could master.
‘This City’ EP, is available for sale.
For more details visit ‘www.myspace.com/jakemorley
