There’s a huge groove that kicks like a mule to opener ‘Black Diamonds’ that sounds so assured and so confident you immediately know that this isn’t Matt Mitchell’s first rodeo. Indeed if like me the name didn’t ring a bell then hopefully you’ll already have heard and loved his previous work with UK AOR Rockers ‘Pride’, the heavier ‘Furyon’ and one of my favourite releases of the last few years ‘Colour of Noise’s debut. Now it’s time for a solo record and in the main its another winner to these ears.
After that heady opener ‘Home’ is introduced by jangly guitars and keyboard swells and is the balance to ‘Black Diamonds’ and a song about getting back on track, its uplifting stuff and after just two songs you know you’re in for a real treat. That is confirmed by the wonderful musicianship in ‘On and On’ which sports two solos- one Hammond, one guitar! It’s probably my current favourite here.
‘Dare You to Watch’ conversely is an almost ‘lounge rock’ outing that soothes and then bristles as it deals with issues of mental health. but there’s more, and more variety – ‘Kings and Queens’ is a stomping good love story in an almost U2 vein and whilst lyrically its fascinating musically its a song that didn’t give me that instant hit.
Deeper still ‘Unavailable’ explores the complex world of relationships and not being able to move on, stuck in the past; whilst ‘Do You Wanna Be My God’ is a funky Bluesy concoction with a lyric inspired by the music business itself, and ‘Old Enough & Ugly Enough’ is lighter still, a plaintive ballad about moving on.
And whilst most of the compositions here are of the lighter kind ‘Wave Goodbye’ rocks a litter larder to deliver a thoroughly modern rock song with a nice kick. The album rounds out with the contemplative and hopeful ‘Everything To You’ and the final note is landed after the languid and mournful ‘Keep Me Safe’ and the antithesis – the hopeful ‘Waiting For the Sun’.
After a storming start Matt Mitchell’s first solo album turns out to be a more thoughtful, lighter platter that it at first might seem. There’s plenty of lyrical depth and some great musicianship but for meat least it’s a hit and miss affair, maybe part of that is the milder nature of the material and the scope which takes in more modern rock sensibilities along with the traditional. If you’re after something thought provoking, open and honest though I can assure you that this one grows with every play.