Having supported The Staves at Exeter Phoenix on the most bittersweet day earlier this year, Flo Morrissey has since released her debut album, Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful, that may whet the piqued interests of Valentine’s Day goers. Sam Jennings reviews.
Flo Morrissey
Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful
Glassnote, 17 June 2015
[dropcap size=small]R[/dropcap]aised in Notting Hill alongside nine other children, Flo Morrissey has certainly managed to find her voice- and quite a clear and beautiful one she has found too. With it, she manages to conjure a pretty kind of fragile sadness to all her songs.
Combine the lilting tones of her singing with sound based primarily upon light acoustic guitar and gentle piano, Morrissey manages to convey an impression of an era of music gone by. This is unsurprising when you consider that Morrissey has previously cited the likes of Devendra Banhart and Nick Drake as key influences during her childhood.
“The album has a warm idealism to it; something soft, and quaint, and folksy”
At points, there is something resembling a little Kate Bush about Flo Morrissey, at others, she can best be compared to Sharon Van Etten. Where these two succeed, however, in bringing an emotional depth and musical development to their work, Morrissey has not quite brought it off, incorporating only one facet of emotion to her music.
The album has a warm idealism to it; something soft, and quaint, and folksy, which is pleasant to dip in and out of, but all too soon becomes a little too saccharine, tempered only by further saccharine sweetness. It feels as though the sound that may initially have drawn you to Morrissey is quickly monopolised upon until you’re left feeling rather desensitised to it all. However, certain tracks have some standout qualities.
‘Pages of Gold’ demonstrates Morrissey’s singing ability beautifully, a piece that mixes faint string backing with a slightly heavier bass and easy-going electric guitar, along with some truly enchanting harmonies. The final track, too, which shares the name of the album, hints at the potential of Flo Morrissey, a textured yet sparing song that plays with cellos and chimes.
In short, the newly turned twenty year old Flo Morrissey, who left school at seventeen to pursue her career in music, has created an interesting debut which, whilst not the most varied body of work, achieves a certain uniqueness in sound that leaves you to ponder what tomorrow may indeed bring, if only for what this artist may offer in the future, and if it will be beautiful. She is certainly one to watch.
Sam Jennings