James Vincent McMorrow has crafted one hell of an infectious upbeat in his latest single ‘Gone.’ The Irish singer-songwriter that captured everyone’s heart with his rapturous cover of Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ is dabbling with some unique R&B/pop sounds in the most recent piece.

He’s incorporated a variety of unconventional instruments that you wouldn’t think go well together but they somehow manage to surpass our wildest expectations and manage to create an atmosphere of desperation, recklessness, and arrogance. The percussion arrangement of the composition is a standout, featuring a line-up of cymbals, triangles, and spirited drum rhythms that’s rapid enough to send anyone down an all-consuming haze. 

The song details a toxic relationship that thrives just as well as it crashes and burns. McMorrow not only acknowledges the patterns of behavior that make both individuals completely destructive to one another but he also cheekily remarks that they will find their way towards each other despite everything. “Gone” but not really so. The lyrics may be a bit of a whirlwind but the production of the song is just so dynamic that the listener can’t help but move their body to the beat. The organ and synth combination imbues an unhinged vibe, one that inspires bad decisions and unwavering abandon, as McMorrow’s monotone vocal work just hits the nail on the mood. It’s one of those compositions that’s far more about the tempo than it is about the harmony or melody, and it won’t be surprising to see it spun off as a club remix either. The potential is endless, and James Vincent McMorrow has paved a special road towards the possibilities. 

The thirty-seven-year-old artist had released four studio albums in his career but the last one was released over three years ago. He’s also been taking his new single to some incredible live stages, including that of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. He recently revealed in an interview that he was waiting to gather life experiences before embarking on his latest body of work. Speaking on his creative process, he said, “I wanted to be a human being and a rounded personality. I don’t want to be this driven engine that’s only focused on the studio. I like the idea of progress and change and evolution and it doesn’t happen without making those changes. If you just keep going and expect a different result you are just an idiot.”

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.