Pico
Morning Sun
Bombora/ MGM


Nestling comfortably amongst the ever-popular surfer/musician hybrid, 'Morning Sun' is reminiscent of the laid back vibe introduced by Pete Murray a few years back.

Actually, the music sounds exactly like Pete Murray. And Pico looks ridiculously like Pete Murray. Where has Pete been these last few years?

Regardless, there is a lot to like about this album. Pico's obvious sensitivity to whaling blends quite well amongst simpler songs of love lost, lament and the journey of life. There is also a lot to dislike about this album though. Pico fails to break new ground with simple songs of love lost, lament and the journey of life, whilst also jumping on the greenie bandwagon to sing about whales.

Perhaps this is the issue with more commercially mainstream music because there's no new ground to be broken here. Comparisons between Pico and Jack Johnson must be flattering, because whilst Pico is comparable to some of Jack's earlier work, those were songs he was writing about six of seven years ago. They sounded great when they were released, but for the discerning ear, hearing the same style of music coupled by straightforward lyrical content might be nostalgic but come third or fourth play of the album, it's ready to be shelved.

The album plays out pretty much how fans of surfer music might expect. There are some very catchy songs, there are some very heartfelt songs and there are one or two thought-provoking songs. Pico is just starting his career however, and the direction he decides to take for future releases will determine his longevity in an already saturated market.

Ryan Winter