Press
{On Massive Leaning}
“One of the most impressive Portland releases this year.”
“Triumphant”
“Massive, undeniable rock…every time I go back to this one, there are even more shades.”
“Next month’s new album Massive Leaning, a joint release by Lung Records and Bud Tapes, emerged in the aftermath of a break-up, though Morris consciously subverts the traditions of such records to offer a more nuanced picture. One where the vertiginous sense of loss and loneliness is in some way counterbalanced by a persistent hope. Take latest single ‘I Want To’, where Morris consciously refuses the temptation to return to familiar ground and instead opens his mind towards something different, and the buoyant sound comes to suggest a nascent spiritual awakening.”
“Julian Morris aka Layperson joined me with an open heart and a mature perspective. Julian plays a wonderful mix with chips of Teenage Fan Club and a buttering of the Byrds vibe. Our fluid conversation was rich, touching on his beginning days, musical inspirations, transitioning and the multitude of challenges musicians face nowadays.”
-If It Be Your Will Podcast (Listen Here)
“As the anticipation builds, Layperson is set to release a fresh full-length album this fall via Lung Records + Bud Tapes. Titled “Massive Leaning”, this 9-track endeavor does more than just delve into the aftermath of a relationship’s end. Instead, it poetically captures the journey from grief to the surprising wonder that emerges from the void of loss.”
“I Want To” layers on the sunny charm, driving forward with propulsive rhythms and bright instrumental tones. The chugging rhythm section and golden-hued guitar lines imbue the track with an ardent, openhearted sheen while Morris delivers an impressively catchy chorus, showing off a careful balance between easygoing melodies and insistent tempos.”
“In the aftermath of the most significant break-up of his life, Morris examines his newly unrecognizable world with an unflinching, yet patient eye, carrying us from the oblivion of sorrow to an eventual spiritual rebirth and an emergence of a new path forward. It is this journey that allows Massive Leaning to transcend the genre of the “break-up” album, to give careful attention not only to grief but also to the sheer wonder that can begin to fill the space left by what we have lost.”
“Listening to Julian, you got the feeling that you were hearing something deeply personal, both in the lyrics themselves and in the way that he delivered them. He could quiet a room or tear its roof off, and either way people heard him and wanted to be closer. It was voyeurism with a permission slip.”
“(Layperson’s) songs resonate with the kind of infectious, wide-eyed joy that sounds ready for whatever’s next.”
“No matter the octave or outlet, or whether it's a "big voice from nowhere" or an all-knowing voice somewhere within, Morris encourages himself and his audience to listen.”