Wilderness Is Paradise Now - Morning Runner Album Review

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Album Review

With most of the recent music cred coming from 'up north', Reading's Morning Runner debut album is hardly going to raise a challenge to the likes of the Kaisers or Arctic Monkeys. Most of the power stuff is of no real musical significance ( it's been done before and failed miserably), though they might fare better with melodic offerings, such as the tender Hold Your Breath.There's a small glimmer of promise, though that's probably due to Coldplay piano influences heard on Burning Bridges. High tempo blasts - Have a Good Time, Gone Up In Flames don't have hit making qualities: the soaring Great Escape and jaunty Punching Walls might, at a stretch, prove otherwise.

The lyrical content may bare difficult issues, but the music is nowhere near challenging enough to make them a super-group of the future.

One standout feature is Matthew Greener's adaptable vocal style, flexible enough to handle the rough and tumble with their softer leanings - closer Best For You is definitely the best song here.

To date, overall songwriting is average at best, so they're a long way -off competing with the better bands.

As yet, they haven't developed their individuality which they'll need to make a lasting impression, in what is an already cluttered music scene of ubiquitous bands.

No gongs at next year's Brits and NME awards I'm afraid.

Elly Roberts