Chuck Morgan

"Patchworks" CDR

Series Two

Genre: lo-fi, indie pop

Sevilla / Gothenburg, Sweden

March 2010

Chuck Morgan (real name [oddly]: Anton Ekman) is one of those unexpected lo-fi treasures that one unearths without really expecting to. Within these homemade pop creatures lives an infectious melodic spirit and some surprising songwriting ingenuity, with Ekman culling inspiration from sources like Belle & Sebastian, Modest Mouse, Arab Strap. One glimpses solid pop hooks on lush "It Is About Time" and prickly "Please Take the Train," the latter of which might have benefited from a more varied guitar backbone. And "Little London" and "Talent For Luck" exude personality and melody in droves. But the record is ultimately a tad hit or miss, an understandable characteristic given the fact that Ekman was a teenager when he wrote it. Goofy "Pefdido" features some truly nice bits, but lacks seriousness or structure, while "This Spring Is" delivers an utterly elegant atmosphere but lacks melodic adhesion. Still, Ekman's missteps show promise, and enough of these songs prosper - both conceptually and pragmatically - to make Patchworks a rewarding listen for lo-fi obsessives and casual pop listeners alike. Ultimately, this journey through light, mellow pop music proves to be one of the Series Two label's finer discoveries.

chuck's myspace

Michael Tau

[Vitals: 11 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2009]