The 52nd album by internationally acclaimed American singer-songwriter, and long-time Paris resident Elliott Murphy mines provocative, wry lyricism, and solid, yet simple production, forays this icon has been making for from as far back as his acclaimed debut album 1973’s Aquashow. That’s a long time to be making music, but luckily for us all, Murphy is still at it, as evidenced by the arrival of Infinity.
Produced by Murphy’s son Gaspard Murphy, Infinity sees Murphy’s virtuoso guitarist of nearly three decades Olivier Durand on board, with Melissa Cox playing violin and Alan Fatras on cajon and percussion. Time only ages Murphy’s wry assessments ever sharper, as he names drops across the hopping lyrical wordplay of slip-sliding opener “Granny Takes A Trip,” sets us into a semi-noir landscape on “Red Moon Over Paris,” and gives forth the best tune of the early half of the record with “The Lion in Winter/The End Of The Game (In memory of Peter Beard).” The subtle snare on this one Murphy’s well-stained talking vocal, and full layered chorus voices really play to the fore. And Durand makes a subtle showing here for the first time.
There really isn’t a moment out of place on Infinity, as we get lifted ever so slightly from the acoustic, slide guitar, fiddle balladeering to a tune like “Makin’ It Real,” seven songs in, the rockiest Murphy gets, with its pumping chorus and handclaps moving things along. The floaty “Night Surfing,” is a sweet ballad nearly ending the record, then Murphy’s low grumble talking over harmonica and guitars of “Count My Blessings,” actually does so.
In addition to all this music-making, Elliot Murphy has also published numerous collections of short stories, and four novels, with his writing appearing in “Rolling Stone” as well as the French edition of “Vanity Fair.” Awarded the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the French Minister of Culture in 2015 and inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame by Billy Joel three years later he also saw a bio-pic The Second Act Of Elliott Murphy released in 2016. It does seem Elliot Murphy might just go on until Infinity. We are best suited if he does.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
