Former lead singer with jet-setting, acid-folk-rock five-piece The Wicked Whispers, Michael Robert Murphy has gone solo in woozy, sultry psychedelic fashion.
The Liverpool melody man hasn’t taken anything for granted growing up in Merseyside as his latest single ‘Puzzles’ rings out from his childhood in a pure, eternally-youthful love of timeless riffs and life-affirming harmony.
Joining him on the track is The Coral’s James Skelly who provides vocal back up and takes the reins as producer.
‘Puzzles’ takes Murphy back to a time when it was difficult growing up in the city and the track is the tonic to tiring times of adult pain that have rushed unexpectedly towards him.
The guitar as medicine and the recording process as therapy, Murphy’s music has been the key to remaining forever optimistic. Forever young.
He says: “This body of work has been the product of raw emotion, love and fear.
“For a time, after The Wicked Whispers, I wasn’t doing music and I wasn’t happy, so I needed to get right back into it.
“The first EP was honest, the most honest thing I’ve ever done. ‘Puzzles’ is one further step forward, bringing James Skelly in, who really gave the track an edge with some amazing hooks.”
Long-time acquaintances for almost two-decades, this is the first time that Skelly and Murphy have come together in the studio.
Recorded at the legendary Parr Street Studios, Liverpool and engineered by Chris Taylor (Blossoms, The Courteeners, The Lathums), the track found the pair honing in on Michael’s psychedelic roots, yet struck out for exciting new territory with the recurring, minimal guitar riff and gently warping the edges with mid-century vocal effects.
The outcome is the bastard child of Flaming Lips and Brian Jones Town Massacre, with a love song trapped square in the middle.
Puzzles is out now and coincides with the announcement of rescheduled live dates for 2021. Michael will also be performing at Liverpool Sound City 2021 in October.
