Jean Morrison’s single release “Cardboard Skies” is a radio edit of a cut originally released in single form seven years ago. He’s resurrected the song for the Halloween holiday in honor of his father, dead just before the pandemic hit in 2020, and as an exorcism of sorts in line with the season. It’s an unloading, a spiritual purgative for an artist with a clear reflective, even melancholy, bent.
There’s ample spirit in this song, however, make no mistake. “Cardboard Skies” thunders with life, actually, but never lands on its listeners with a heavy-hand. It’s sleek and stream-lined without a single second of audible aural fat discernible during its running time and listeners will be hard-pressed to identify any cliché. You’ve been here before, however, if you know your rock music. Morrison operates from a common playbook that references Queen and other bands of that sort, but he’s refurbished everything in his own reflection.
This is especially true of the lyrical content. Interweaving conversational lines and wide-open generalities with flashes of unexpectedly specific imagery marks Morrison as a first class writer and pairing it well with the arrangement is the crowning touch. No one instrument leads the way, though it’s naturally driven by the familiar cast of guitar, bass, and drums at forefront. Those searching for Guitar Hero style theatrics are advised to look elsewhere.
Songwriting is in the spotlight here. It could scarcely be any clearer that it is something Morrison takes with immense seriousness though there’s an almost offhanded quality in the song, The great ones always make it sound a little easy. There are some echoes, as well, of a souped up Mott the Hoople in this track, an equally adoring and scathing early Ian Hunter lyric burning just below the surface of scintillating rock and roll.
The radio edit condenses the song to a more than manageable length but there’s definitely no indication of Morrison blathering on too long. He’s been doing this a while now. Morrison first came to public attention in 2005 performing at open mic nights in his native South Africa before meeting eventual producer and fellow musician Dave Birch. Birch produced his 2008 debut EP Fawe and is working right now with Morrison on his first full-length release.
It will be one of the year’s best whenever it hits. Jean Morrison is going to rocket to the forefront of a lot of imaginations when that release hits as it’s certain to illustrate his massive growth over the past seven years. It’s been quite a ride for us all and it is safe to assume that such a talented and thoughtful songwriter has a lot to share about his experiences during that time. “Cardboard Skies” may be only a taste of what he can do, but it is a magnificent morsel. Be among those enjoying the feasts to come. Working out of San Diego now, Morrison is making music capable of cutting across every line, real or imagined, and making an impact on the music scene we seldom see anymore.
Chadwick Easton