Matt Steady - 2020 - The Echoes Remain

(46:18; Matt Steady)

Track list:
1. The Roamer 3:56
2. Hello Old Friend 3:29
3. Theory of Ruins 5:26
4. The Green Man 3:58
5. Buen Camino 3:45
6. Long Road Home 3:57
7. Funny Old World 4:54
8. Grist for the Mill 3:24
9. The White Cliffs of Dover 6:09
10. Hazel of the Rocks 3:02
11. Wayfaring Stranger 4:18

Line-up:
Matt Steady - vocals, instruments
with:
Indigo Steady - vocals
Eleanore - vocals
Terl Bryant - percussion
Sam Jefferson - guitars
Steve Fletcher - keyboards
Serena Smith - violin
Phil Harris
Stuart Wood


UK artist Matt Steady is a fairly unknown quantity to me, but he reached out to me one day - on Twitter I believe - and offered to send me a promotional copy of his album "The Echoes Remain". An offer I obviously accepted.

It would appear that Matt has been quite the productive artist for the past five years or thereabouts, with a steady stream of studio albums as well as a live album being released between 2016 and now. The album I received is actually a compilation album, made for promotional purposes, and for those curious about new music this album is freely available as a digital download on Matt's website.

In terms of style, the music on this compilation album showcases an artist with a firm interest in folk music. While he does explore some more traditional varieties of the form, it would appear he is even more fond of exploring the folk-oriented landscapes one will find in many related styles. Roots music, Americana and blues all find their way into Matt's universe, but the perhaps most prominent style here is what I'd describe as folk rock. Most of these songs with a stronger emphasis on the folk aspect than the rock details, at times only with the bass guitar adding a slight touch of rock music to material otherwise firmly rooted in a traditional folk music context.

As one would expect from such an album, the violin has a leading role in many tracks here, and the acoustic and electric guitars used have some older relatives present too. At least a mandolin unless my ears deceive me, or possibly a banjo. Either that, or acoustic guitars tuned to convey tones and timbres of a similar quality as those instruments. Male and female vocal combinations are a natural part of this context too, and Matt has teamed up with some fine vocalists here. He has a fine voice himself too, clean and careful when needed and with a darker rasp that comes in handy when the circumstances make that a requirement.

That being said, on the bluesier creations here Matt showcases his ability as a guitarist able and willing to produce and deliver both livelier, harder edged and more spirited guitar work too. Those fond of moods of a darker and more mournful atmosphere will get their fill too, the material explored cover landscapes light and beautiful just as much as darker and mournful, with a few cases of songs with a grittier edge to them too.

For those who tend to be fascinated by artists operating inside the borders of roots music, Americana, blues and various incarnations of folk music, with something of an emphasis on the latter of these, Matt Steady is an artist that you probably should spend some time investigating. As this compilation album is a click and a download away from anyone, spending a few minutes to investigate this artist is within the bounds of anyone with a reasonably good internet connection.

Olav M. Björnsen, September 2021

Links:
https://mattsteady.com/