Review: Darren Morris - Union II (Ramrock Noir)

Did somebody say, "Ramrock Noir Again"?  Did somebody say, "Darren Morris"? Did somebody say, "Darren Morris (he of keyboards, mastering engineer, producer, North Street West, Black Science Orchestra, Steve Mason Band and loads more) releases an LP on the new label Ramrock Noir has a follow up to Union I called Union II"? 

'Union I' is something leftfield even for the ambient leftfield cinematic fans as imagine again Darren Morris at the Henry Willis Organ at the Union Chapel in Islington improvising in grand gothic tones.  And then he's added studio embellishments later that take the sound further into early Tangerine Dream, Edgar Froese, Klaus Schulze et al (see review HERE).

In the studo his got Solina string machines that recorded the cellos, violas and violins separately along with "Arpeggiated performances on the Nord Lead II add a bit of sci-fi movement, plus pings and pops from a random rhythm generator synth made lovingly inside the Nord Modular Mk1 - both keyboards I’ve owned since 1998 by Swedish company, Clavia” and throw in a tape echo and some vibes!

This sounds rather Wendy Carlos/Keith Emerson/Rick Wakeman to most of us but on the 3 lead tracks, 'The Big Debussy', 'Stick Children' and 'Unwinding Vision' it's what we've been calling for.  

A trip on the Jean-Michel Jarre spaceship via your nearest Cathedral organ and you're ready for a best OST nomination.

If you've ever listened to Moz Walsh's All.FM show on a Sunday Morning that has strong classical / spiritual links, 'Union I' would form a 'Best Of' selection and if you stay tuned to the station, you'll know that the Ray Conniff fan club (Jason Cook et moi) are big on the version, 'An Improvisation On "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" - watch out for the No'west Xmas remix!.

Artist: Darren Morris

Title:  Union II

Release date: 30th June, 2025
Label: Ramrock Noir Records
Cat. No: RRNLP002
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Darren Morris - Union I (Ramrock Noir)

Did somebody say, "Ramrock Noir"?  Did somebody say, "Darren Morris"? Did somebody say, "Darren Morris (he of keyboards, mastering engineer, producer, North Street West, Black Science Orchestra, Steve Mason Band and loads more) releases an LP on the new label Ramrock Noir"?  Nawr, I don't believe it.

But it happens to be true, why noir?  Well, 'Union I' does not fit in with the rest of the Ramrock family of labels even if you took into account the latest Malik/Waheed 'L'Opera Noir' Mix variants (see review HERE).  'Union I' is something leftfield even for the ambient leftfield cinematic fans. 

Imagine if you will, Darren Morris at the Henry Willis Organ at the Union Chapel, Islington improvising in grand gothic tones on which he's added studio embellishments later.

'Union Space Gospel' and 'Acetone & Minitaur Pullstops', sounds more Minotaur with big bull like pipes and hip-hop beats. 'Ascension' is a bit more synth spiritual and 'Birds In The Chapel' really fits the surroundings with cold synth winds; it's like an organic (Ed. no pun etc) version of Tangerine Dream on a cathedral tour.

Apparently, Brian Eno's dad used to repair organs (his day job was a postman) and over the years he (the Dad) made a collection of the pipes and built himself a his own instrument out of these church cast-offs - if only there was an ambient ENO album of that, 'Music For Suffolk Postmen's Organs'?

Amazing to think that Darren recorded this in a few hours but the organ is the star here, if you've ever listened to Moz Walsh's All.FM show on a Sunday Morning that has strong classical / spiritual links, 'Union I' would form a 'Best Of' selection.

P.S. As an aside, I saw The Art Ensemble Of Chicago at the Union Chapel many years ago and apart from being very strange that such a well known group were playing in a relatively small former church in Islington, it was very odd as I remember this guy from the audience near the front standing up about 5 minutes in heckling rage.  Something like the band couldn't play jazz and then he charges out up the central aisle like a bride deciding not to go through with a marriage ceremony - most odd.

P.P.S. For full Jazz a la Cathedral, try Michael Garrick at Jazz Praises At St. Paul's, 1968, nods to Biggabush for pointing this one out.

Artist: Darren Morris
Title:  Union I

Release date: 25th April, 2025
Label: Ramrock Noir Records
Cat. No: RRNLP001
Format:  Digital / Bandcamp