James Vincent McMorrow is giving us two new albums this year, and the first one has arrived.

Out first is The Less I Knew, which McMorrow wrote and produced over the last couple of years. And perhaps exemplary of its origin, it makes for the perfect listen in the midst of these complicated times, brimming with emotion and candidly confronting struggle while also looking to brighter days. That is vividly on display on the song "Hurricane," which McMorrow shared ahead of the album's release.

"Even before the last two years I think I’d lost sense of why I do the things I do," says McMorrow. "I lost the thread of what I wanted to be and what I wanted to say. The Less I Knew, for me, is about getting that back. It’s about going easier on yourself, realising the entire world is putting on a show, no one is immune to pressure."

Adds McMorrow: "We contort ourselves in order to convince ourselves things are fine, or things can get better. For me, doing that meant I was missing, I had missed so many incredible things as they were happening."

As we previously mentioned, McMorrow will follow up this record with Heavyweight Champion of Dublin 8, which is expected later this fall.

Hear The Less I Knew now.