Ty Murray – Treefort – album review

Frontman for Chapter 11, Ty Murray had his album Treefort re-released on CD on Astoria, NY label Tarbeach Records last week. Two of his tracks have appeared previously on Tarbeach , with Monkey Don’t Care covering She Goes Her Own Way and the albums closing track, After My Time.

Thankfully (for someone who loves a vast range of musical styles and hates labels) it is hard to pigeonhole/label Ty. His music is good old straight up rock music. Sure, there are influences that can be heard here and there. Opening track Fallen Angel has a Start! rhythm running throughout. While the second track Re-Enactor has its roots somewhere in the world of reggae, mixing this with classic rock riffing. There is also something about the album that recalls Glasgow’s James King and the Lonewolves, perhaps it is a similarity on the vocal intonation. Musically too though, there is a bluesy/country feel running through the album.

Enveloped in rich tones

Third track Warm Hideaway adds an element of 1970s funk guitars to the mix. By now, Ty feels like an old friend. There is something about his vocal that makes me feel as if I’ve been listening to this album for years rather than just having heard it. Appropriate to mention at this point, there is a warmth to Ty’s vocal. He induces a feeling of calm, with his welcoming and comforting tone. This carries well into the following track, the heartfelt ballad, The Face I Face. I’m not comparing in sound, but the feeling I get from Ty is akin to the feeling I get when I listen to Martin Stephenson. Heartened, safe and enveloped in his rich tones.

I Know has an alt-country alt-rock feel that would sit well alongside the likes of Buffalo Tom and Gin Blossoms, a foot-tapper with some sweet riffing throughout.  The acoustic opening to She Goes Her Own Way sparkles in all its glory revealing a vibrant electric guitar riff and a distorted vocal, rising to a wonderful crescendo in the chorus. Ty’s folky/country side is revealed in all its glory in If You Knew What I was Thinking. A paean to unrequited love, a beautiful mandolin solo leading into the songs close.

Exploring the vagaries of life

The reggae side hinted at earlier really comes to the fore in Frenchies. While Borrowed Life wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Del Amitri’s debut jangly indie album. As I get to this stage in the album, having listened to the lyrics as I’ve gone, there is a theme – an exploration of the vagaries of life. The highs and lows are explored, thoughts on how life pans out based on decisions made and events that occur. A great reflective piece. As if by magic, lyrically, the next track What Would You Say? is a case in point. Look Through Your Own Eye is a boisterous straight up rocking romp, with a bit of a Byrdsian backing refrain at the chorus and some solid licks and riffs.

The brace of tracks that close the album, All Those Years Ago & After My Time are amongst the strongest and my favourites lyrically on the album. The former an elegant countrified reflection of the past complete with mandolin and accordion, occasionally with an almost Velvet Underground feel in places. The latter, a mostly acoustic contemplation, textures again provided with mandolin and harmonica – like a bit of a mash-up of REM & Dylan.

For an artist I’d not heard of until brought to my attention by Walter from Tarbeach, I’m mightily impressed. A wonderfully touching album. Cheers once again Walt & Co. And Ty of course!