ALBUM REVIEWS
Matchbox Twenty – Where the Light Goes
Matchbox Twenty have triumphantly returned with their first album in 11 years.
Where The Light Goes sees the Florida quartet tap into their late 90s pop-rock roots, but also fearlessly tread new ground. The uplifting opener Friends sees frontman Rob Thomas proclaim “All my friends are here”, perhaps acknowledging the band’s return, while the positivity continues to flow through Wild Dogs (Running in a Slow Dream). Aside from the guitar-centric rock numbers, there is room for subtle piano ballads such as One Hit Love, which further deepens the introspective themes prevalent throughout the album. Despite not expecting to make music together again, Matchbox Twenty have successfully proved they have plenty left to offer.
Simply Red – Time Review by Hannah Roberts
With a beast of a back catalogue, Simply Red have already made their mark on the music industry, but this hasn’t stopped frontman Mick Hucknall from continuing to write and perform. In new album Time, Hucknall examines his identity, which he says is the “essence” of the album. Reminiscent of their earlier work, when Simply Red wrote funky dancefloor fillers and slow ballads, Time sounds like it’s come straight from the 80s. Never Be Gone is a great example of this, developing into a ballad about grief that’s hopeful, simplistic and the definition of easy listening. Too Long At The Fair and Slapbang are more folksy than funk, with the rest of the album sounding soulful, yet soft. Overall, Time offers a sentimental and smooth listening experience for any fan of old school pop.
Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine Review by Hannah Roberts
The aptly titled My Soft Machine, from Mercury Prize winner Arlo Parks, transports listeners into a soundscape of dreamy bedroom pop. Opening the album is Bruiseless, where Parks talks over a synthesised melody, gentle percussion and sound bites from what sounds like a children’s playground. In 2021, Parks won the Mercury Prize award for album Collapsed In Sunbeams, so the singer-songwriter has a lot to live up to. Drawing listeners in with lyrics about mental health and love, My Soft Machine will resonate well with young people navigating typical coming-of-age treacheries. One of the most interesting songs on the album is Devotion, which includes a catchy strings-focused melody that culminates in a rock-heavy climax. Blades and Pegasus are two other stand-out songs.
Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay – Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay Review by Janne Oinonen
Lou Reed swore by two guitars, bass and drums. The second duo album by Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay proves the electrifying potential of the double guitar line-up even if the rhythm section and amplifiers are removed from the equation. Recorded entirely live, the album (released by foremost custodians of British folk music, Topic) is more readily categorisable as ‘pure’ folk music than Ghedi’s and Hay’s expansive solo albums. With Ghedi on six-string guitar and Hay on the 12-string, the duo’s nimble exchanges nod towards such legends as Bert Jansch and John Renbourn while achieving a unique musical identity. The album’s contemplative highlights are reminiscent of the lyrical beauty of the late Leeds-born cult hero Michael Chapman’s most moving pieces.