Colin J Morris

Petrichor Self-released***

Once a member of Irish 1990s shoegazing band Sunbear, Colin J Morris's musical endeavours have mostly been confined to TV- and film-scoring in recent years. Now striking out on his own, the Dubliner's debut solo release is a mini-album comprised of long, winding instrumental tracks informed by piano, acoustic guitar and electronica. A cinematic ambience permeates each song, particularly the solemn, measured opener, Leningrad. Morris's skill for pacing continues on Radium Dials, merging a soft acoustic guitar loop with gradual hints of forcefulness, while the fleeting metallic shimmers of Sylvan tempers the mournful shadows beautifully. Named for the word that means "the scent of rain on dry earth", Petrichor's contents aren't nearly as obscure as that phrase would suggest, but they're every bit as evocative. A promising career restart. See colinjmorris.com.

Download tracks: Radium Dials, Carbon