Other Rivers

Sound DNA

• Rock

About

The title of the debut full-length from England’s Matthew & The Atlas gives a nod to the great American author John Steinbeck, and indeed the dusky, gnarled feel of Matthew Hegarty’s music (and especially his voice) conjures an Americana sensibility. Trading in the more prominent banjos and front-porch feel of earlier EPs and singles for background washes of electronic keyboards and crispy percussion puts Other Rivers just outside the realm of folk and into something richer, like a brew of Port O’Brien, Will Oldham, and The National. But the songs still pulse and twinkle with late-night introspection. Hegarty’s voice adds a few extra-rich layers to the yearning quality that's so common—and necessary—for this type of music. He’s weary, hopeful, and resigned, and his voice resonates with a warmth and familiarity that’s hard to resist. The opening track, “Into Gold,” is a gorgeous, alluring tune that pulls listeners in, with gentle synthetic swells, fragile guitar lines, and muted, heartbeat percussion that lifts dewy choruses to lofty heights. Elsewhere, tones of husky soul, shades of quivering uncertainty, and a palpable desire color the beautiful topography of <i>Other Rivers</i>.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits