Nowhere, NW
Strolling Bones, 2026
9/10
This debut from Hunter Morris/Mountain of Youth pairs ‘70s lo-fi fun with ‘90s grunge ideas, where the mature wordplay is surrounded by raw music.
“Automatic Days” opens with Morris’ distinct voice and fluid guitar alongside Ben Hackett’s well timed mellotron and charming whistling with a slight jangle and some grit, and “Everything Falls Apart” follows with Morris handling acoustic guitar that suits Will Herner’s agile drumming via the retro-folk ideas.
“The Invisible Boy” and the title track land in the middle. The former welcomes Graham Powers’ animated mandolin to complement the rootsy flavor, while the latter recruits hand clapping and Phillip Brantley’s bright guitar and harmony vocals that accent the melodic climate.
Close to the end, “Stowaways” benefits from Jojo Glidewell’s strategic piano and the rugged yet tuneful rhythm section, and “Until You’re Dreaming” exits with Morris handling piano amid McKendrick Bearden’s lap steel and Marta Kelleber’s cello for the dreamy and intimate finish.
An often vulnerable but also thick display of introspection, Morris’ vision is one that embraces the human condition and yields songs that just might make you mull things over while adorning a well worn flannel.
Travels well with: Elijah Johnston- Stupid Soul; Haunted Shed- Faltering Light