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For his latest release singer/songwriter/producer PJ Morton takes us on a ride through familiar territory via a different musical road map. The New Orleans native is in pure form on “Walk Alone,” in which many of his tracks pull from his southern roots and church upbringing. Finding a careful mix between instrumentals generally commissioned for jazz and blues tracks Morton laces them with docile themes that keeps him teetering on the edge of his own interpretation of soul music that can’t be simply identified as merely one thing.

Much of “Walk Alone” is as easy breezy as it comes. On “Girlfriend” Morton ponders why previously uninterested women seem to be drawn to him now that he is very obviously taken. Although a simple concept the addition of guitar strings, and horns add to record’s the somewhat whimsical atmosphere. Another interesting pairing of seemingly unconventional instruments with a common subject matter is “She’s Gone.” Unlike tracks in which an artist would typically tend to slow down the music to match the heartache that comes with losing a love, Morton begins in slow motion before climaxing to a burst of heavy electric guitar chords directly contrasting the subject matter, which is intriguing if nothing else.

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