Time Without Consequence

Alexi Murdoch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zero Summer Records
• ASIN: B000F8OIHI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,517 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Lo-Fi
  • #13 in Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Britain
  • #46 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's a heck of a start to a career. Before he had released any material in the States, Alexi Murdoch was championed by KCRW's influential tastemaker Nic Harcourt. (Murdoch moved to LA in the late 1990s.) This led to the release of the Four Songs EP, which led to appearances in Garden State and on the The O.C.. Even arranger Van Dyke Parks (Tim Buckley, Harry Nilsson) became a fan, praising his "imaginative chords." Fortunately, Murdoch's self-produced full-length lives up to that early promise. The Nick Drake-inspired "Breathe" and "Orange Sky" are likely to be familiar to most listeners. Another standout is "Home," which shakes up his folky formula with feedback and trip-hop beats. If Time Without Consequence has a fault, it's simply that Murdoch sounds remarkably like fellow Drake devotee José González (right down to his spare finger-picking style). One singer-songwriter is from Scotland (by way of England and Greece), the other from Sweden (by way of Argentina), so it seems unlikely that either musician influenced the other. Plus, great minds do think alike. In any case, Murdoch has fashioned a satisfying debut; the true test will be to follow up with an album that reveals a more distinct personal identity. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echoes of Nick Drake, but all Alexi, June 28, 2006

By 

August Ray "Sentient Being" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Time Without Consequence (Audio CD)

I do not make comparisons to Nick Drake lightly, but Alexi Murdoch's tunes on "Time Without Consequence" can rightly be compared to Pink Moon, River Man, or other legendary Drake songs. Alexi's quiet, confident performances, sung in a hushed voice with guitar and (mostly) minimal instrumentation, are beautiful, haunting, and soothing without being boring or saccharin.

But while Alexi Murdoch's terrific CD may reflect Drake's style he is also clearly his own performer, experimenting with different sounds and approaches to his music.

His voice is not the deepest or strongest you'll hear, but that doesn't matter when what is being conveyed is emotion and beauty. This CD feels like a private performance worth revisiting, and in the few weeks since it was released I have listened to it dozens of time and keep hearing something new and interesting each time.

In a loud world, this CD whispers for your attention and genuinely deserves it!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Beautiful, June 6, 2006

By 

L. Jonathan Mohr - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Time Without Consequence (Audio CD)

As one of his earlier fans, I have been waiting for this cd for close to a year and a half. This album includes three songs released on his Four Songs EP, but Orange Sky and Blue Mind have each been rerecorded. The best songs on this cd are all my days, wait, and shine. All my days is very reminiscent of Nick Drake and the other two are simply heartfelt songs written with eloquence and beauty. This is one of the best cds of 2006, if not the best. Please enjoy.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, it's that good., June 21, 2006

By 

Gregory P. Carrier "gcarrier" (Iowa City, IA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Time Without Consequence (Audio CD)

Just got this CD today. I have the EP, which I like a lot, especially "Orange Skies." As good as that is, I didn't really expect him to make a great album first time out; sounds like that's exactly what he did, though.

The first song, "All My Days," is the most uncanny channeling of Nick Drake I've ever heard, but it's original and natural; it's so effortless, you'd think he had never actually heard Nick Drake, but just happened to develop and identical style. The rest has some definite Drake-ish touches, especially the sound of the guitar and the voice, but it's so much more than a tribute album. It's just really good, and I expect it will sound better the more I listen. If you liked "Orange Skies" or you're a Nick Drake fan, don't miss this. I'm as tired as anybody of having every new singer songwriter compared to Drake, but we finally have an artist who deserves it, even as he trancends it.