Like so many of his ilk, American folk singer-songwriter RB Morris uses the notion of the road and its broad brushed nuances to drive his latest album from personal inspiration to a shared experience. GOING BACK TO THE SKY fondly looks back at the anticipation and adventure of travel along trails where the journey likely exceeds the destination in terms of fruitful accomplishment. A little research into the stature suggests a top creative and all round admired cookie. Sampling the multi layered delights of this album extend the vision to western wanderlust and fluid dreamer. From a contemporary folk base of wide scale tone and instrument utilisation, you get a sense of poetic drifting controlled by a tight sonic backdrop.
The fourteen track listing can be trimmed by a trio of minute long instrumentals, billed as Prelude I and II and early placed re-energiser 'Somewheres West'. While playing their part in forming the framework to hold the album together, this trio gives way to the songs when assessing the true depth and feel that sees Morris's work weave well into a listener's sphere of enjoyment.
On the song front, first up 'Red Sky' sets a high bar while positioning itself as opener. A raft of places are quoted to set a wide expansive scene and the line 'red sky at night sailor's delight' prompted thought of the evolution of the saying in terms of using sailor or shepherd. Emotions and moods rotate around a carousel of styles including the Tex Mex trumpet infiltrated Mariachi number 'Under the Cigar Trees', the bluesy hallucinogenic road song 'Six Black Horses and a 72oz Steak' and dreamy steel effortlessly projecting the whims of title track 'Going Back to the Sky'.
Joining these in the credit column are the groovy acquaintance track 'Me and My Wife Ruth', 'Once in a Blue Moon' delicately lamenting lost love and the princely placed closing track 'Walking Song' exiting the stage like that perfectly executed fading encore moment. Dylan associations are mainly loathed as lazy in my book, but if you can't beat them you might as well join them when it comes to 'That's the Way I Do' right at the heart of this record.
Of the remaining four tracks, the metaphorically themed 'Old Copper Penny' appeals with an old time jazzy feel, while 'Missouri River Hat Blowing Incident' is a symbolic song that magnifies the mundane. 'Montana Moon' is one of those lonely travelling songs where mysterious forces help you along in the vein of a settled groove.
GOING BACK TO THE SKY perfectly captures the imaginative magic and transportation of stepping inquisitively and apprehensively onto the open road. RB Morris has many tricks up his sleeve from lyrical acumen to enticing arrangements. This allows an album to float around a dedicated listener's ideals and court a forthcoming pleasure.
