Dublin’s James Vincent McMorrow released his second single, the stirring 'Sparrow & The Wolf', in July 2011. This comes off the back of a stunning performance on 'Later...With Jools Holland', where James joined the likes of Friendly Fires and Blondie in concluding the current BBC 2 series.

'Sparrow & The Wolf' is taken from McMorrow’s acclaimed debut album, 'Early In The Morning', which was released via Believe Digital / Vagrant Records (The Hold Steady, Edward Sharpe) in March. It has won widespread plaudits across the Atlantic, including McMorrow’s native Ireland, where it narrowly lost out on a Choice Award (the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Prize).

His first UK single, 'This Old Dark Machine', also set James up for an extremely busy year: it picked up an early In New Music We Trust playlist at Radio 1, following extensive support from Fearne Cotton, Huw Stephens, Jo Whiley, Annie Mac, Zane Lowe, Rob Da Bank and Nick Grimshaw. With additional support strong across XFM, 6Music and Radio 2, 'Sparrow & The Wolf' looks set to build on James’ growing worldwide success, and win him even more supporters.

James Vincent McMorrow’s musical life began far removed from the haunting folk and mythic imagery of his debut output. His early love was in fact hardcore rock, and he spent his teens learning to play drums to the likes of Refused, At The Drive In and Glassjaw. It wasn’t until he heard Donny Hathaway’s 'I Love You More Than You Will Ever Know' that he even considered singing, and because of the high, soulful tone to his voice, James found particular encouragement from female singer/songwriters.

"But it wasn’t until about four years ago," he notes, "that I actually wrote my first song. I knew I needed to have things worth talking about before I put pen to paper."

'Sparrow & The Wolf', and the album from which it is taken, is the result of this self-education. Having begun to write songs, he quickly sought somewhat surprising inspiration in the hip hop production of acts such as The Neptunes and Timbaland. Only then did he take this newfound knowledge into an isolated house by the Irish Sea, intent on making a record.

Throughout the album, you can hear the overtones of his Irish upbringing brought together with these traditionally more American, West Coast sounds. It is a tender and, in the case of 'Sparrow', often exhilarating mix, sure to soundtrack many a festival across the summer.

'Sounds both fresh and as if they’ve been in your head forever…McMorrow’s debut deserves its success' - Q ****

'Vocals, lyrics and arrangements whose restraint and subtletly are totally at odds with the profound impact and resonance of his songs' - Sunday Times Culture

'The Irish songsmith's haunting, soulful sound blossoms...he will be unstoppable' - Guardian ****