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Luke Morley, the best-loved lefty in the world (apart from Ned Flanders, that is), is back with a new solo album to prove that 2023’s ‘Songs From The Blue Room’ was not a fluke. And like SFTBR before it, ‘Walking On Water’ reinforces the fact that Morley is one of the finest songwriters that these shores have produced in some time.
Except for the much-missed Tony Clarkin of Magnum, there hasn’t been a UK songwriter as consistent as Morley, and the purple patch that Thunder were enjoying before Danny Bowes’ horrendous health issues has continued with two high-quality solo albums in quick succession.
As Morley states, “I’d say that the new album is maybe a little rockier than the last. It may have something to do with not having to write a Thunder album for three years!”
And he is not wrong there.
Shades of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Tom Petty are peppered throughout the album, and you could pick up on a John Mellencamp vibe on the bouncy opening track ‘Natural High’, and the equally bouncy ‘Snakeskin Parachute’. Both examples cause involuntary head bobbing, handclapping, and bad dancing. If it’s true that the forthcoming UK tour is an all-seated affair, then these two will have them dancing in the aisles, especially when Morley peels off one of his trademark sizzling guitar solos.
This is happy, good-time music, where the sun is shining and everything is alright, alright, alright. The title track changes the location to a swampy bayou, and the CCR influences seep through the sudden bursts of hard rock on the Thunder-like chorus. Catchy, with lashings of fantastic guitar tones from Morley. Superb. Simply superb.
Nobody writes heartbreak like Luke Morley, and Thunder are untouchable when it comes to non-maudlin ballads: ‘Love Walked In’, ‘A Better Man’, to name but two. Morley continues this with moments such as the latest single ‘Breathe’. Spoken-word vocals, tales of regret, insanely hooky in a Traveling Wilburys kinda way (ditto ‘Always a Saturday Night’, which is boosted by some lush, female backing vocals), with a fizzing guitar solo that resembles a rocket launch: it’s one of Morley’s finest moments in a long career of many. And again, it highlights how Morley has the knack of writing songs that almost anyone can identify with and, in doing so, empathise with the protagonist. It’s a tad bizarre, though, how Morley can write heartbreak so well, considering how bloody cheery he always seems.
The semi-acoustic ‘Gun To Your Head’ is a highlight. Very Thunder-ish in places, it’s easy to imagine Danny Bowes pouring his heart out on this one with Morley wailing away on his white Gibson Les Paul. Likewise, the glam-fuelled stomp on ‘Bullets’ is perfect for Bowes’s cheeky grin, and his trademark Dad dancing. It has that Thunder groove, as well as a thick, gnarly guitar tone from Morley. Is that Thunder’s Sam Tanner on piano? ‘Forever and Again’ is another highlight. Gentle, hopeful, and uplifting, with a killer solo (gotta be a Fender though?), it is rather beautiful.
National Treasure status is handed out to almost anyone these days. And usually undeserved. In the case of Luke Morley, though, it is thoroughly deserved and long overdue. His vocals are improving with each new offering, and he appears to be more at ease in the spotlight. The title ‘Walking On Water’ conjures up certain connotations; on this occasion, it is apt, as at the moment, Morley is untouchable.
‘Walking On Water’ is available now. Purchase the album, tour tickets, and VIP bundles here: https://lukemorley.tmstor.es
Tour dates:
Thurs 11th September – Manchester RNCM Concert Hall
Fri 12th September – Glasgow St Lukes
Sun 14th September – Sunderland Fire Station
Mon 15th September – Leeds City Varieties
Tues 16th September – Bristol St Georges
Wed 17th September – Brighton Old Market
Fri 19th September – London Bloomsbury Theatre
Review – Dave
All black and white images: Jason Joyce
Live image: Callum Scott
