Kris Morris

“A musical Wizard from Aus releases a stunning debut album"

The current economic crisis that is blighting the music industry means that artists like Kris Morris and albums like I Think We Both Know are now pre-destined to relative failure. Without Kris getting the backing of a decent record label you will probably never get to hear this stunning album and that’s a damn shame. I Think We Both Know opens with the sublime So Beautiful; a song that Radio 2 would have played to death 12 months ago and still should. Title song is a plaintive cry from one lover to another at the jagged edge of a doomed relationship. Kris Morris uses his edgy voice to great effect on this and It’s OK, with both songs crackling with suppressed anger and infatuation.

Kris Morris has honed his talent and paid the proverbial dues over the years by moving from his native Australia to London and playing every pub and club South of Birmingham. The album ends with another two marvelous heartbreakers – I Still Believe and Closer To You, but thankfully by now Kris has re-discovered love and tells his new lover that he wants to ‘risk getting hurt/ replace tension with tenderness/replace anger with gentleness.’ James Blunt, Ray Lamontagne and Ryan Adams must all wish that they could have written songs as great as these.

My only regret with I Think We Both Know is that it is only available as a download. Gone are the days when a release like this would be trumpeted from the rooftops with full colour advertising; a gatefold sleeve, 32 date UK tour and Kris appearing on every TV programme from Later with Jools Holland to Loose Women. On the upside, not only is it relatively cheap to download the tracks from his website and iTunes; but you can also get a FREE album of demos too. How can you resist?”

**** - Maverick Magazine UK

It is hard to believe that Kris Morris, who hails from the same coastal part of Australia as Jack Johnson [kris: Gentle Jack is from Hawaii but yeah same kinda seaside vibe], is as young as he is. His anguished lyricism and musical competence are from another era, by a significantly older performer. Although he has been variously described as being influenced by the occasionally vapid Ray Lamontagne, the US folksy Ryan Adams and even fellow Antipodean Neil Finn, what emerges is the distinctive and comprehensive confidence of a guitar player and songwriter, whose vocal dexterity can more than stand-up on its own choral intensity.


Okay. So there is a bit of over-dubbing and layered-tracking used to build his unique sound but, when you hear his voice accompanied only by his capable guitar plucking, then you also realise that you are listening to a solo performer of considerable substance, whose past seven years spent as a troubadour around the pubs, clubs and university circuits in the UK have been a time well spent in formulating his debut album, I Think We Both Know. That’s right. This is the man’s debut. He did make a small mark with an EP launched in early 2007 (‘Little Light’) but, as we all know, it is only air-play that will guarantee commercial success and I believe that Kris Morris more than deserves that recognition.

Dabbling on the peripheries is both a luxury and a detraction from where he should be. His sound is personified by the occasional pain of his experiences, although it is not as tragic as the archetypal, beard-growing ‘mountain man’, of a type that seems to have grown commercial fruit for some artists through the TV commercials scene. Morris displays a genuine honesty and as much musicality as Jeff Buckley, despite the occasional melancholy of some of the tracks on this album (release date: 13th April 2009).

There is some truly wondrous music on this CD, which ranges from potent electric rock to soft and naked poetry from the heart. We are informed that he has returned to Oz. Somehow, I think he will come back to Blighty, because Kris Morris is one artist of whom you will be hearing more in years to come.

4.5/5

Iain Robertson
Reviewed Online - Reviewed Online

When we first heard Kris Morris’ ‘Little Light EP’ we thought we’d found an artist with potential. That was back in 2007 and whilst it’s taken a while for his debut album to follow, it has proved us right. The acoustic guitar can be raw and powerful, rock out and become intimate. “I Think We Both Know” is a phrase that often signals a new beginning. The time to reflect is over, the time to act is now. Morris’ writing captures that sense of uncertainty and turns it into music. Consequently the album is edgy and blue, cathartic and positive, tough love and kindness. It lives on the nerve and jangles. - FATEA

“There’s few people who have a strong enough voice to have unaccompanied parts on the first song of their first EP. Kris Morris is certainly one of them though. Broken is a song to warm the coldest of hearts.

This EP is one of the most sincere and heartfelt collection of songs I’ve heard in a while, and I’d challenge anyone not to get something from it. The simple melancholic strumming of the acoustic provides Kris will all the backing his voice needs.

Whilst its unfair to say there’s no honesty in music these days (The View’s declaration of their unwashed clothes, Maximo Park’s heart–on–sleeve relationship analysis) there’s only a few people who actually go a little deeper, particularly into the not so pleasant things, but Little Light articulates this perfectly.

Why this man had to release his own EP is an absolute mystery/travesty. Someone sign him. Now.” - Tasty

“Kris Morris grew up in a coastal town just north of Sydney as he grew older the bright lights and big smoke of London beckoned and he soon moved to merry old England.

Morris took a bold step on his debut EP ‘Little Light’, he sung unaccompanied on the opening track ‘Broken’. His powerful voice rings out the speakers, his lyrics seem heartfelt and sincere, it’s the sort of song that will make your mum cry. ‘Broken’ sets the pace for the rest of the EP. All the songs on ‘Little Light’ are incredibly sincere and honest, the sad strumming of his acoustic guitar provides the perfect backing to his melodic vocals. If any more instrumental work was added to this EP the full impact of Morris’s voice and lyrics would be lost.

‘Little Light’ is one of the most deepest and moving EPs I have heard in a while and with the likes of Scott Matthews becoming more and more popular it wont be long before Kris Morris is a household name with an instantly recognisable voice.”
- RoomThirteen

“From the north coast of Australia, Kris Morris brings us a mix of acoustic, country/ folk music. This is a lovely, honest EP, capturing the essence of hope as well as fear. Influences such as Bob Dylan, Ray Lamontagne and Ryan Adams definitely shine through.” - Xpression FM

“Ah now thats great. I really enjoyed that, I think he’s got a very interesting voice, a unique sound to it and I do like the songs he writes.”
Frank Hennessy (after playing 'Other Side' on his program 'Celtic Heartbeats') - BBC Radio Wales

"Soulful acoustic workouts delivered with a sultry voice deserving your attention." - Subba Cultcha