Towards the Sun

Alexi Murdoch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zero Summer
• ASIN: B004K00NT4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,590 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch s second record Towards the
Sun is a follow-up to his 2006 release Time Without Consequence. Murdoch s
debut cemented him as a Top Ten Artist to Watch in Rolling Stone. NPR Music
called it a timeless folk-pop record that s likely to endure. Riding a groundswell
of grassroots support, Murdoch chose to self-release Time Without Consequence.
It ultimately sold over 100,000 copies -- and continues to sell briskly a half
decade after initial release.
Though his second record has been long in coming, Murdoch has remained in
the public eye. His debut was one of the most licensed albums of the decade,
receiving placements in dozens of fi lms and television shows. Later, after
appearances on KCRW s Morning Becomes Eclectic and WXPN s World Café,
he was tabbed by director Sam Mendes to contribute nine songs to the soundtrack
for the acclaimed 2009 fi lm Away We Go, alongside tracks by the Velvet
Underground, Bob Dylan, George Harrison & the Stranglers.
Murdoch recorded the majority of Towards the Sun in Vancouver in a single night
while on tour in North America in 2009. Revisiting the tracks months later in New
York, he fl eshed them out with the help of musicians known for their work in
Brooklyn s independent music scene, including Jon Natchez (Beirut), Kelly Pratt
(Beirut) and Kyle Resnick (The National).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Murdoch Takes His Time March 8, 2011

By J. Loudon

Format:Audio CD

Although his debut EP, "Four Songs," came out in 2002 and his first album, "Time Without Consequence" was released in 2006, it took an additional three years before Alexi Murdoch's music began to captivate large audiences. In 2009, Murdoch's music was used for nearly 70 percent of the soundtrack to the movie "Away We Go." It was then that Murdoch's name finally earned some recognition. His tracks have since been used in numerous TV shows and commercials.

For an artist whose music is almost always slow and reflective with four-year gaps between releases, it's surprising to learn "Towards the Sun" was recorded almost entirely in a single night in 2009 while on tour in Vancouver. Members of The National and Beirut assisted with some of the atmospheric backing tracks later on, but Murdoch's night of guitar and vocals, emitting signs of wear from the road, remains the focal point of this release.

Just seven songs long taking up a combined 37 minutes, "Towards the Sun" may be short, but Murdoch stays true to his craft of quiet, intimate acoustic tracks. Opening with the title track, gently played piano chords and distant horns held behind Murdoch's finger picked guitar and nearly whispered vocals set the tone for the album. There isn't a stand out single quite like "All My Days," but tracks like "Slow Revolution" and "Through the Dark," which each clock in at over five minutes in length, highlight Murdoch's unique strengths as a songwriter. Often pausing to hold individual syllables or taking time to hum a short melody, Alexi Murdoch isn't concerned with throwing as many words as he can at the listener or building up the instrumentation to draw attention away from the lyrics. Instead, he takes each track at a pace that works for him and allows the music to flow organically.

Although experimenting with unique sounds is typically what earns an artist the title of a risk taker, Murdoch takes chances in a different way on "Towards the Sun." Singer/songwriters whose music is as quiet and leisurely as Murdoch typically release albums much more frequently in an effort to keep their music relevant. Instead, he took his time, staying honest to his craft and releasing a new album fans of his previous efforts are sure to love, even if it sacrifices radio play or TV slots.

Similar Artists: Nick Drake, Elliott Smith
Track Suggestion: "Slow Revolution"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A true modern folk genius August 30, 2011

By Sol Rosenberg

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Building upon what Nick Drake created decades ago, Alexi Murdoch has produced some of the most moving, honest and timeless music in a time when so much of what is being produced is forgettable and disposable. Make no mistake, Alexi's music will continue to be admired 40 years from now. His voice is as haunting and spiritual as his songwriting and I have lost count of the number of folks to whom I have recommended his music.

"Towards" The Sun" is a rare release in that it is a perfect compliment to his full-length debut, "Time Without Consequence". There is not a single weak track on any of his releases. Like most creative greats, he seems incapable of producing anything which could even remotely disappoint and, similar to artists such as Drake, Leonard Cohen, Kate Bush, et al, Murdoch seems far more interested in producing honest music than with churning out even one radio hit.

Absolutely amazing release from an equally amazing artist.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting, honest, and beautfully understated October 31, 2012

By WS

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an absolutely beautiful album. Part of what makes it so intriguing is that it's both heartbreakingly intimate, and totally disconnected. He doesn't invite the listener into his world, and he never enters the listener's world. Rather, it feels as if Murdoch accidentally recorded a moment so private that one almost feels guilty listening to it.

Through the Dark is especially haunting. If you're not sure about the album, spend the few pennies to buy Through the Dark, which is not well represented in the sample. You'll be back for the rest.