This is released on December 19. We had cleared the reviewers intray totally this week, empty from top to bottom, a rare feat. A few were just trickling in for the new year, and then this sneaked under the radar, a single pre-Christmas release.After a bit of hmm (ing) I decided to have a listen (avoiding the house clean that was next on the agenda) + I had a cat sitting on me so could not with all good intent get off the sofa to clean the kitchen just yet.
I’ll share the press kit information with you and then review this single, something a bit different to the usual ones I do methinks (A bit of Shakespearean English there for you as the Armada is the theme here).
“Los Angeles-based violinist, composer, and looping artist Chris Murphy, known by his moniker Seven Crows, will release his second instrumental album, “Powers of Observation,” on April 24, 2026 via Teahouse Records. The 14-track project offers an immersive exploration of ambient, post-rock, and experimental soundscapes, built entirely from the electric violin. Recorded in Portland, Oregon with producer Gregg Williams, the album expands on the atmospheric direction of Murphy’s 2023 release Secrets of Navigation, praised as “stunning” (The Bandcamp Diaries) and “ambient music that glides along flawlessly”(Skope Magazine). Every sound on Powers of Observation originates from Murphy’s five-string electric violin and a collection of pedals, yielding textures that range from ethereal to cinematic. The result is a body of work that feels at once intimate and expansive, weaving influences from classical, jazz, electronic, and world traditions.
Recommended for listeners of: Sigur Rós, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Daniel Lanois, and Pink Floyd.
Born into an Irish-Italian family near New York City, Murphy grew up surrounded by his neighbors’ traditional folk music before discovering rock ’n’ roll and drawing influence from adventurous icons such as Lou Reed, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, and Richard Thompson. He later studied Turkish and Indian music at Simon’s Rock of Bard College and composition at Boston’s New England Conservatory, grounding his intuitive creativity in formal training.
A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Murphy explored percussion, guitar, mandolin, and Eastern instruments before finding his true voice on the violin at age 22. Onstage, he thrives on spontaneity and improvisation, weaving global influences into music that blurs the boundaries between genres.”
My review: The single is out on all platforms on December 19.
The defeat of the Armada by Anne Boleyn’s daughter, Elizabeth I, was testament to a changing world order as England emerged as a new sea power. From a pirate kingdom
“God’s wind blew” and the Armada was scattered. This is part lament and part wistful evocation. It was perfect music to drift while on the sofa actually, it blends the violin into a background effortlessly and is a mature and interesting composition. There is a painting of Elizabeth, post Armada, with her hand resting on a globe, the era of exploration. This music is not here, it is not celebratory, it reflects on the destruction of the Spanish fleet and the passing of their time.
Seven Crows doesn’t soundtrack conquest here, but its aftermath. The result is a beautifully measured piece that drifts, reflects, and refuses to celebrate — letting history’s wreckage speak for itself.
Love what we do? Rock the Joint Magazine is completely free — no paywalls, no ads ruining the read — just passionate music journalism for 1,000 readers a day. If you enjoy hanging out with us, please consider hitting the “Support Us” button and buying us a coffee on Ko-Fi. Even a small donation genuinely helps keep the magazine running, lets us publish more features, and reminds us that people value independent music writing. And at this time of year a Christmas drink is appreciated.
You can stream music from Seven Crows here
By Lorraine Foley