James Morrison: You’re Stronger Than You Know review – Midtempo nuggets of wisdom

The title of James Morrison’s fifth album, You’re Stronger Than You Know, is rather autobiographical. The English songwriter takes his mix of soft pop and soul and, after losing his father, brother and nephew and being dropped by a major label in the space of a few years, he illustrates that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Opening with My Love Goes On, a duet with Joss Stone, his rusty voice is as distinctive as ever and, in a flurry of guitar and brass sections, he treats songs such as So Beautiful and Feels Like The First Time as a love letter to his wife Gill, who the album is dedicated to.

While Glorious sounds like a jacked up version of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love, Until the Stars Go Out sweetly promises stability and support to his daughters.

It’s fair to say that Morrison paved the way for the Ed Sheerans and George Ezras of the world and while their music goes down a path of (relatively) youthful discovery, Morrison can look back on the lessons he’s learned and shape them into midtempo nuggets of wisdom.