James Vincent Mcmorrow LIVE @ O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, 05.10.14

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As I enter Shepherd’s Bush Empire, enchanting, atmospheric melodies flow from the stage, courtesy of the Daughter-esque Slow Skies and immediately I know I’m in for a wonderful evening.

Surrounded by glowing pyramids and a giant, glimmering moon, James Vincent Mcmorrow takes the stage, immediately captivating each and every one of the 2000 attendees with his piercing falsetto and sweeping vocal harmonies. Oozing his twinkling, iridescent songs that match the illuminated surroundings perfectly, Mcmorrow treats us to a host of magical delights.

As older songs such as ‘Hear The Noise That Moves So Soft And Low’ are juxtaposed alongside newer offerings like ‘Glacier’, the Irish crooner never fails to enchant his listeners with his tales of love, loss and the beauty of his homeland; the subtle power of his unique resounding vocals making it impossible not to become utterly mesmerised. However, unlike my last live experience of Mcmorrow back in 2012, he is now able to scatter witty, jovial anecdotes in between being completely immersed in those heart-rending outbursts – he is chatty, charismatic and confident: “Well, that was f***ed up, but goddamn it had heart!”.

Whilst Mcmorrow retains his trademark, poignant falsetto, evident sentimentality and soaring orchestration, with his newer material he appears to have ventured into new territory in his use of electronic beats, ethereal reverb and twinkly synth, – thus making it impossible not to draw references to current electro-indiesters such as Alt J and James Blake. However, as displayed in songs such as ‘Red Dust’, this is no bad thing; exuding a choral grandeur, Mcmorrow seems to have created a unique fusion between a resplendent, gospel-like power, his gentle Irish folk roots and this electro-indie beat. It’s pretty magnificent. Added to his own majestic presence is an incredible light installation that perfectly accentuates the ethereal aura that has swept over the Empire; as the video for the recent ‘Lookout’ is recreated, we are assured that “this is the artiest shit I’ve ever done” as impressive 3D mapping and inspired graphics cast themselves over the moon, creating a breathtaking skyscape.

So, whether he’s bursting into his own rendition of ‘Higher Love (“Not a Prince song, I’m afraid…”), or delivering a completely stunning, un-amplified encore of ‘If My Heart Should Somehow Stop’, Mcmorrow exudes an overwhelming, graceful power and heart-wrenching sentiment. And, as all 2000 of us sing along to the emotion-strewn soaring falsetto of ‘We Don’t Eat’, the air is filled with awe-inspired wonder; proof of just how far Mcmorrow has come from the shy Irishman I saw at Cambridge Folk Festival two years ago.

James Vincent Mcmorrow’s current album, Post Tropical is out now. Listen to new track ‘You Know’ here: