Cerys Matthews
Don't Look Down - Cerys Matthews Album Review
Album Review
Welsh songbird Cerys Matthews, once voted the Sexiest Female in Rock (Melody Maker 1999) must be cockahoop with her new album.
Don't Look Down is a drastic shift from her debut solo, Cockahoop and its follow-up Never Said Goodbye.
Her first album was deeply rooted in her then surroundings in America, when she was married. Her return to Wales (and now London) has brought a much bigger musical vision set in the 60s and occasional dips into her ex-band's repertoire. There's no attempt to become another Duffy however, though I'm sure she's noticed what her compatriot has been up to.
After several ups-and-downs following her departure from Catatonia - a divorce from Nashville record producer Seth Riddle, a relocation to her beloved Wales and much publicised fling with an I'm A Celebrity...contestant, this album acts as a form of catharsis.
On the lush 60s Into The Blue she declares," I'm not looking for trouble, trouble always finds me," though her spirit remains upbeat.
In a recent showing on BBC 1's The One Show, she admitted it was an album of positives, hence Don't Look Down.
Broadening her musical horizons, Matthews includes some huge production values a la Phil Spector found on the cinematic sweep of Arlington Way, a strong single in the making. Those soundscapes are littered masterfully across the entire collection however.
Keeping the retro-feel, there's also nod in the Motown direction on perky dance -bound Smash The Glass, while sweet filigree ballad Aeroplanes veers towards a '68 mood, providing our Cerys with one of her best vocal performances ever.
There's a grittier epic touch to the laidback Spider And The Fly whereas It's What's Left is mostly chaotic hi-octane pop proving the lady can still pack a punch.
Salutations takes the form of a desperately lonely mum noting a diary to a smooth and stylish sweep and hushed voice: the jewel in the crown. Then she goes all bold and brassy like some of her Catatonia days on punchy A Captain Needs A Ship, with edgy Heron hinting at 40s angst.
Matthews has written some great pop singles...but this is her best work to date, no question.
The verdict - Very, very impressive.
Gigs
- Wed 07th Apr 2010
- Sun 11th Apr 2010
