Customer Reviews

Time Without Consequence

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

Alexi Murdoch's "Time Without Consequence" is a good set that brings to mind acoustic classics like John Martyn's "Bless the Weather" & Nick Drake's "Pink Moon." I encountered "Orange Sky" on the soundtrack to the John Travolta film "Ladder 49" and have been on the lookout for more music by the artist. ("Orange Sky" apparently was also on a soundtrack for the TV series "The O.C.") The mood on this CD is gentle with Alexi's voice being like a gentle caress from an old friend during hard times. While songs like "Dream About Flying" & "Wait" are excellent, my three favorites include the one I first heard, "Orange Sky." Of course, the image of "Orange Sky" seems tailor-made for a film about firefighters. Murdoch's gentle vocals sound reassuring, "In your love, my salvation lies in your love." "All My Days" is another excellent track with fancy finger-style guitar that builds, "I look around me & my eyes confound me; It's just too bright as the days keep turning into night." I also repeatedly play "Blue Mind" which starts like a dirge and then brightens "Remember when you were only a child and would start to see with your blue mind." This is a satisfying set of folk-flavored tunes, making Murdoch a musician to watch. Enjoy!

This fine (if a bit subdued) debut does in fact invoke the spirit of Nick Drake--particularly in the first two cuts, "All My Days" and "Breathe". After that, aside from the ballads, Murdoch's songs exhibit a strong pulse-like rhythm which is decidedly unlike Drake.

With a fine, warm and ruddy voice, Murdoch puts a more sanguine stamp on his music than Drake does. And, though he sings of loneliness, there are many hints of optimism here--a studied reflectiveness instead of the pensive gloom of Drake's albums. The songs flow along effortlessly, and some of Murdoch's other influences assert themselves. He has obviously listened to John Martyn quite a bit, as well as Bert Jansch and Pentangle. Compare "Dream About Flying" with Pentangle's "Light Flight", as it bustles along. "Blue Mind", with its tabla rhythms, sounds very like John Renbourn's work.

The pleasure of this album is that like his predecessors, Murdoch is a craftsman who builds his songs around solid guitar work, like a carpenter uses strong beams to build a house. Contrast that to a lot of the three chord strummers trying to ride the wave of so-called "emo' music. Virtuosity--could it be making a comeback?

These are subtle songs that take a while to insinuate themselves into your brain. It's one of those albums that is best listened to alone, when the intimacy of it can be appreciated. There is a lot of moodiness, shadow and space, and thankfully not a whole lot of clutter. Good music for contemplation.

It is heartening to hear a young artist who is ardently pursuing one of those " roads that are not often taken."

I look forward to his next one.

Time Without Consequence is one of those albums. One of the ones that you can put into your cd player and just feel completely enveloped by the music. The quiet, gentle intensity of this album is just outstanding. Murdoch seems to be singing/playing so effortlessly and at the same time pouring his entire soul into the music. It is a dichotomy that is present throughout the entire album and it works extremely well.

The comparisons between Murdoch and Nick Drake are valid, and that is actually the first time I've said that, which is amazing considering how many artists people compare to Nick Drake. The biggest similarity between the two is the quiet intensity they bring to their music. But Murdoch goes beyond Nick Drake in the sense that he is not just a Drake clone, and his songs showcase Murdoch's own identity and direction.

I won't go into individual songs, because I'm sure others will review the album song by song. I'll just say that I although I have my favorites, there aren't any bad songs on this album. All the songs are quality pieces of music and none deserve to be skipped over. This will probably be the top album of the year for me, and it is definitely the best I've heard so far. Great music.

Like everyone else I have been waiting a long time for this one. Raw, refreshing, and real. Would really love to see him in concert.

I love Alexi Murdoch. His Four Songs EP is one of my favorites and has been in my CD Player for a few years. As every reviewer has stated, I've waited a long time for this album to come out and it did not disappoint. Each song is wonderfully crafted and the blend of solid lyrics and haunting melodies is pretty much some of the best stuff on the market today. My major problem is that three of the songs on the album were already on the EP, meaning that he only came up with 8 new songs for the album. That's pretty disappointing when you think about how long many of his fans have had to wait. Orange is still the best single he has, but he's had it for a long time. I know it's common practice for new musicians to use songs from previous EP's on albums, but I think it's only fair if the album has 10 or 12 new songs or more, especially for fans of your music. I guess I'm being overly picky, as it really is my only criticism. Murdoch has been compared to Nick Drake and Badly Drawn Boy, so if you're fans of those two, he's a sure hit.

Alexi Murdoch is the kind of artist we all love to see arrive on the scene. A great talent with a somewhat unique spin on a folk-rock genre that has historically produced timeless albums. His first release (the 4 Song EP) created a huge amount of buzz and was a staple in my musical diet for over a year - a great release. I've listened to his new album now about 15 times... and there's something missing. I can't exactly put my finger on it. There are definitely a few songs that are fantastic. They grab you and suck you in to a whirl of acoustic guitars and droaning vocals. But most of the other songs don't hold it together quite as well after several plays. I find myself getting annoyed at the rather simplistic and repetitive chords/notes of most of the songs - in fact the "rather simplistic and repetitive" lyrics don't help.

I want to like this album... heck, I've been wanting to like this album for a long time (he took forever to release it!). But I find myself dissatisfied with the end product. It leaves me wondering if folks out there are wanting the same thing? Murdoch doesn't show me much here - he lacks the mastery of a great lyricist (like a Mark Mulcahy, say) and his guitar style is thin (some of his songs remind me of the repetitive droan of a Sterelab album... but his style doesn't suggest that he striving for that sound).

This album is worth buying if you are looking to pick up a few more noteworthy tracks... but I don't think it will stand-up to the test of time like albums release by so many of larger-than-life folk rock artists that grace our collections.

Here's hoping for a better sophomore effort.

I, like many others, have been waiting for this album for quite some time. Right from the first track, I was hooked. "All My Days" is a haunting, melodic, heartbreaking opening to a fantastic album. "Breathe" has a subdued yet powerful message. "Home" is just plain fun. "Song For You" is sweet, somber, and hopeful.

However, I must say that the Four Songs version of "Orange Sky" is what I consider to be the greatest song ever written. However, the Time Without Consequence version is devastatingly bad (when held up to the light of the original). The new version is too fast, has an inexplicably irritating percussion, and just doesn't dig into the soul the way the Four Songs version does. I will always be baffled by this remake. It is truly awful. Its only saving grace is that the original is still available.

But that is by no means any reason to avoid this CD. In fact, those who do not know the original "Orange Sky" may fall in love with this one. But it is my duty to warn those looking for an "Orange Sky" that matches the original that you will be severely disappointed. Outside of this single-song complaint, this CD has vaulted to one of the best I own.