Lethbridge based folk/ pop musician Matt Robinson is a pretty compelling performer and attempts to capture it on his debut CD “Something that We Did,” with a little guidance from producer Leeroy Stagger.
It ends up being just the type of laid-back, multi-layered Cd you’d want to listen to on a rainy afternoon.
He borrows Leeroy Stagger’s hot band including drummer Kyle Harmon, bassist Tyson Maiko and guitarist/ lap steel player Evan Uschenko. Leeroy Stagger himself adds extra vocals, bass and guitar. They pull out all the stops, bringing in former 54-40 drummer and producer Darryl Neudorf to mix and master Robinson’s debut.
He picks up the pace a little on “Mother,” which has some interesting vocal echoes and an upbeat arpeggiated guitar riff plus a subdued solo.
This CD requires repeated listens as it really is very laid back. Robinson sounds like a mellower Rob Thomas mixed with a touch of Wilco on more up-tempo tracks like “ This Old Spot.”
He starts with the folky “Ben Finsel” which grows on the listener because of the appealing acoustic guitar lick.
“ Something That We did” has a superb funky bass and acoustic guitar riff which give the song a touch of ’80s new wave, coupled with echoing vocals. There is a lot of pretty acoustic guitar playing throughout the CD.
He picks up the pace alittle more on the ninth track “This Old Spot,” which has a more of an alt-country sound. It was co-written with Leeroy Stagger, and has a Bruce Cockburn feel, mixed with Rob Thomas and Wilco. It stands out, if only because the rest of the songs sound very similarly slower and softer, though they are a pleasant listen.
He ends on another slow note “ Edgewood,” which features some haunting harmony vocals and sighing pedal steel guitar set over an arpeggiated electric guitar riff.
Cd: Something That We Did
Artist: Matthew Robinson
Genre: folk/ pop
Record Label: Rebeltone
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