It’s funny how the connections we often make through others can highlight feelings of shared humanity. For me, these instances often seem to arrive at opportune moments, delivering a lift when the weight of world seems to feel heavier when viewed through the window of the daily news and social media. The latest uplift was the biggest surprise and brought back a flood of fond memories and conversations with a late friend who also wrote for KLOF. Long-term readers will remember David Morrison who was one of our review team from 2015-2023. A freelance writer and music industry veteran, Dave grew up in the UK, first in Birmingham, then Brighton, before moving to Vancouver Island in 2006. He was an incredibly caring and passionate individual, and he left quite an impression on many of those he met, myself included.
Why the preamble? ‘Sailing Away’, the new single from The General Store, a melodic alt-country pop project fronted by multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter, Tam Johnstone, is inspired by and in tribute to Dave Morrison, who was a friend, flatmate of and a musical mentor to Tam Johnstone (who essentially is The General Store) – going back to their Brighton days in the late 90s and indeed beyond and Tam is about to rekindle The General Store moniker after 25 year hiatus. His new album, The Great Indoors, featuring new and unreleased material , will be released on November 21 2025.
He writes:
Sailing Away was written and recorded in March 2023 while my friend, David Morrison was in palliative care (he passed away as I was finishing the track.) Dave and I shared a flat together in Brighton in the early 2000’s. To say he was a voracious lover of music would be a huge understatement. His record collection was vast and eclectic and he introduced me to music that would shape the sound of The General Store. In return, Dave would be subjected to hours of muffled twangs, bangs and yelps emanating from my bedroom as I worked on what would become Local Honey – The General Store’s debut album. He is a pivotal figure in The General Storey and his enthusiasm and encouragement ultimately led to that album reaching a wider audience.
Until Sailing Away, I hadn’t seriously considered releasing any more music as The General Store. It had been 15 years since Mountain Rescue (the second General Store album) and I assumed that particular chapter was over. However, the experience of recording Sailing Away – recorded as a personal thank you to him – stirred up strong feelings about making another record. The Great Indoors: an introduction to The General Store (released November 21st) is a compilation featuring tracks from the two General Store albums plus unreleased material dating from 2000 to 2025. It’s 25 years this year since Dave, Eddie (Dave’s cat) and I moved into our little basement flat in Brighton. Sailing Away looks back on that time fondly and remembers an incredibly kind, caring and supportive friend who left way too soon.
It’s a beautiful warm and caring tribute.
“a one-man melody war machine making swooning,’70s-scented noises to colossal effect.”
Fierce Panda on The General Store
Tam began his musical career as a runner at London’s legendary AIR Studios going on to play drums with several London-based bands in the ’90s including Green Tambourines, Paint and Jaguar. In 2000, he moved to Brighton and began recording material as The General Store releasing the albums, Local Honey (2002, Not Lame) and Mountain Rescue (2008, Brewery Records) to widespread critical acclaim. Moving to the United States in 2009 to work with Detroit covers band, Fifty Amp Fuse, The General Store was put on hold indefinitely. Now back in the UK, Tam has reopened the doors at The General Store to mark the band’s 25th Anniversary.
The Great Indoors is a 10 track compilation featuring new and unreleased material. It is released on Novemeber 21st via Unified Feels Recordings UK.