Gurf Morlix - Caveman

      (This review was started in March, but some continued writer’s block and other issues have  delayed completion until now. I’ll try to explain more soon; go figure. KJH)

     If you’re a professional, independent musician who tours a lot, produces other musicians and occasionally accompanies other musicians live, a pandemic such as COVID-19 (which really isn’t over) can potentially cause a lot of problems, from financial and artistic to personal/social. Buffalo/Hamburg native Gurf Morlix, who does all of the above, apparently named his late 2022 CD Caveman (Rootball Records) in recognition of how he feels things had gone for him.

     Fortunately, it sounds like things went quite well musically, because Caveman is a really good bluesy, rootsy country rock album. Morlix seems to have emerged from the pandemic pretty good so far, having played everything on the 10 songs here except for one accordion part and one drum track, as well as having produced and engineered the album. Not one to sit around even when you’d think he earned it, Morlix released his newest album, I Challenge the Beast, April 1. Indeed, he said he has recorded at least seven albums worth of music during COVID-19.

     The album opens with the fun “I Dig Your Crazy Brain,” sounding a bit tongue in cheek and led by a great bluesy country guitar riff. He notices someone for what might be outward appearances to others but Morlix sees something more underneath; he also delivers a short, sweet and stinging solo. The title song follows with Morlix noting he has and will do what he has to do to endure, an achievement both as an independent musician and survivor of the virtual stopping of his way of life for several years. There is some cool, echoey guitar on this track. There is also a notable cover of Jim Whitford's “Crash All Night,” originally released on the ex- and current Pine Dog’s Poison in the Well CD, produced by, you guessed it, Morlix in 2000 (Morlix and Whitford have been friends since childhood); the song features the original drum part played by the late Donald Lindley.

     Elsewhere, “Where the Lost Are Found,” some spare, swampy blues with a rocking solo, seemingly has Morlix leaving behind the superficial “friendly” world for something more substantial. “Mudbugs” shows Morlix looking back and forward to good, honest food, people and music, Louisiana flavored rock with a fine accordion part from Joel Guzman. He also nods to some great music and memories on “1959,” a dirty blues rock number. I could go on, but there really isn’t close to a bad song here.

      Morlix and Rootball Records can be contacted, and Caveman (and the new I Challenge the Beast) can be purchased, at www.gurfmorlix.com and at https://gurfmorlix.bandcamp.com/releases.