Early in the Morning

Released in early 2010, James Vincent McMorrow's debut album, Early in the Morning, established him as a central figure in the Irish indie-folk scene. Moving away from his earlier interests in hardcore and hip-hop, McMorrow retreated to a small house in Drogheda for six months to write and record the album in complete isolation. This environment is audible in the record's DNA; the production is characterized by a 'bedroom' intimacy but elevated by sophisticated vocal layering that recalls the work of Bon Iver or Fleet Foxes. Unlike his later, more electronic-leaning work, this album is firmly rooted in acoustic instrumentation, featuring prominent banjo, piano, and hand-played percussion. Critically, the album was praised for its emotional honesty and McMorrow's technical vocal prowess, particularly his ability to maintain a powerful, resonant falsetto. It remains his most 'organic' sounding record, serving as a bridge between traditional singer-songwriter tropes and modern atmospheric production.