CD Reviews
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CD Review
Parry:Matthews
"Album 1"
Rating 92%
reviewed by Ash Brown
www.silhobbit.com |
Well, the bio on the Parry:Matthews website says "Imagine the blistering pop brilliance of early Bloop combined with the lyrical whimsy and heroic sentiment of Willo Wilson in his guise of St.Germain & The Small Widows and you're only beginning to get the picture."
That left me picture and clueless (my usual state) so I thought I'd better play the CD Charlie had given me.
First impressions are that Parry:Matthews come from the same stable as Portishead - not that Portishead came from a stable, otherwise they'd've been know as Horseshead - but they have proggier touches than them. Singer Anna Parry has a great voice and looks that I am jealous of, while Simon Matthews does a great deal of instrumentation, and well.
Opening track Do Ya Love Me? has been featured on one of our wonderful podcasts (and can also be found on the bands MySpace page, as well as Wrong Song and Let It Hurt) and does set the Bristol Electronia tone. Until the second track, Against The Wall, comes in with it's own Cranberries sound and the third, True Love, brings a bit of guitar rock to the ball.
Wrong Song goes back to a P-word melancholic groove, Let It Hurt and Women flow well, then In Deep takes the sound to a new place. A sort of Peter Gabriel experimentation place with rhythmic drums and a bit of chanting. Well, he lives down that way too, doesn't he...
The album finishes on a real high with Where The Music Used To Be.
So I reckon that this is a fine debut from the Bath / Bristol pair (... must ... resist ... all ... puns ... ).
And the best thing about it? Well, if you go to their MySpace page, you can download the mp3's for mpfree! Though if you do, you should make a donation, cos they do have to eat. Either that, or spend a fiver and get the proper bone-fide CD version.
And while you're on there, check out the demo's for their second album, a couple of which Charlie has also played on his Podcasts. Hopefully he's made a donation to the cause. |
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Parry:Matthews - Do Ya Love Me EP
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When I put this CD on I thought I'd accidentally put my tranquillity CD in by mistake. Do Ya Love Me? starts off with a soothing instrumental opening followed by an adventurous vocal. Throughout this song a wave of peacefulness creates a magical atmosphere, one that would remind you of being in a crystal shop. At the end of this track I started to feel motionless and slightly light headed as the music was taking me under its spell.
Against the Wall was like a prod with a hot poker which brought me back into reality. This song sounds more 80's, along the lines of Jane Wiedlin, but A Message takes me back to my inner peace. The gentle vocal slurs around the lyrics and the captivating harmony draws you back in. Halfway through the track a seductive electric guitar solo breaks through the serenity, which reminds me of a heavy breathing romantic scene from a Hollywood blockbuster, where the dialog fades out and the music, and passion, takes over.
Anna's voice continues to soften and Let it Hurt shows her talent is far more versatile than you realise. The vocal in this song sounds like The Corrs with what sounds like a sleepy African tribe chanting in the background, a bit like an eighties pop version of Paul Simon with Andrea Corr in control of the microphone.
Sadly True Love is the last song on this EP, but thankfully Parry:Matthews don't disappoint. This track has more intensity and the electric guitar really captures that music-video moment of playing a solo on a cliff-top.
This EP is pure magic with surprising edge and depth. Parry:Matthews are like a pill to calm you down after a stressful day - it's just a shame they don't come on repeat-prescription. 8/10 |
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Parry:Matthews CD Review
by Kevin from Bristol Rocks
The first track on this CD is 'Do ya love me?'. This track reminds me of the style of Portishead with its hypnotic rhythm and haunting vocal. Towards the end of the song there is a nice blend of rhythmic chant with Anna's gorgeous vocal over the top. I love this track.
'Against the wall' reminds me of Fleetwood Mac. This is not a criticism, Fleetwood Mac were an excellent band and Anna Parrys vocal could easily be mistaken for Stevie Nicks. The 'Rumours' album made its way into almost everyone's CD collection in the 80's and this is where the Parry:Matthews CD could sit. An album of well crafted music that should be in everyone's collection, that will be played while driving your car or as background music at a gathering of friends.
'Woman' brings out another characteristic of Anna's voice. The track begins with just an acoustic guitar and a touch of keyboard and progresses to include rather impressive harmonies and looped samples.
'Let it hurt' is my favourite track on the CD. In my opinion this song is mainstream enough to get airplay, while being original enough to make people listen. Simons production on this track is faultless as is the vocal performance. For me this is the perfect pop single.
Parry:Matthews have left me somewhat confused. The CD contains a well produced playlist of sophisticated pop songs that would grace anyone's CD collection. Their live show however is not mainstream in any way, it is experimental and interesting in its own right. The problem here is that the two are not related and will appeal to two different audiences, I would have preferred the live show to mirror the CD....Or maybe vice versa.
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Alternative Parry:Matthews album review
by Alan from Bristol Rocks
Do Ya Love Me? What a fantastic opening track! The haunting vocals on Do Ya Love Me confirm the bands confidence. The rhythm and backing on this track lift the listener to a place that a Buddhist Monk can only dream of reaching after weeks and weeks of self hypnosis, chanting and meditating on a pure mantra. For me, this track is what music is all about. It takes the listener to a place where words, music and imagination fuse to produce a magical experience. A masterpiece.
Against The Wall This track grabbed me by the throat and screamed instant classic. This band has a mature, developed musical style that puts them head and shoulders above most of the bands that rule the national charts. Against the Wall reminded me of some of the better Fleetwood Mac tracks that are still so popular today. I have played this track over and over. It gets better each time I listen to it.
True Love True love started with a kiss, a wonderful guitar and a moving piano piece. This track showcases the fantastic skills that singer and guitarist share. Again Parry:Matthews display confidence and maturity as True Love lifts then paused for reflection. A sad song for sure, but well, you know love can hurt. Technically, this track is perfectly balanced. The backing singing is superb. The lead guitar is real Stairway to Heaven but then fades away to leave the stage open for the haunting melody. True Love is truly a lovely song.
Wrong Song Wrong Song was the right song for me. Parry:Matthews is a shed full of talent that comes together here. Shallow? No, shallow is not the way to describe this deeply moving song. Once again these lyrics and the singers voices are haunting. Listen to this song once. It will stay with you forever.
Let It Hurt This track doesnt hurt, it heals. Wonderful voice, great lyrics. This song will top our charts. My daughter cried when I played this track to her. "What's a girl supposed to do when she is so in love with you?" Let it hurt is the answer. I'm not a girl but I know that this song has captured that inexplicable feeling that we all get when we fall hopelessly in love and experience the self doubt that modern day thinking calls insecurity. Different faces everywhere. It hurts, it hurts, but this song will ease the pain.
Woman This song has great potential. The backing vocals are wonderful and the opening guitar and keyboard are really moving but I'm left feeling that the song isn't about anything. I might have missed the point and if so I'm sorry, but that magic something is missing. I think that Woman might need a bit of a central point. "Give me call and I will get you through the city walls" created great images in my mind, the floating "Woman" vocals are lovely, but then the song stopped. A bit like the Kronenbourg 1664 advert on TV when the conductor stops at that critical point.
In Deep I struggled with this track. Great drums and a pleasing guitar strum. I think that I can hear a mouth organ as well, but what is this track about? I didnt understand the lyrics and to be brutally honest I felt that the whole track just didnt get started.
Where the Music Used To Be You dont want to say goodbye to this song. It fills a huge hole where real music used to be. Buy it, listen to it and love it. A constant theme through this album is Parry:Matthews' ability to create a wall of sound that is strong enough to take the listener to a peak and then, just pause. The void is filled by a beautifully crafted follow through. For me, this track is the strongest, best performed and most natural song in this collection. I loved it. I just wish that it lasted much, much longer. Simply brilliant.
A Masterpiece
Live Reviews
MUSICAL TALENTS SHINE IN SPOTLIGHT
Evening Post Showcase: The Fleece, Bristol
14 August 2007
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Wrong Song Right Tune - A My Space Bash
by Tim Symes
The My Space Christmas Bash,
The Invention Studios,
Bath,
2nd December 2006
I enrolled in MySpace earlier this year. And one of the first things to do, obviously, is to get some 'friends.' Scrolling through the music section of the site, I came across the band Parry:Matthews. Their music sounded great, and I loved the profile and their witty, tongue in cheek influences. When the chance came to see them 'Live' at the MySpace Christmas Bash in Bath, I could not refuse.
So, along with friends Pete and Tracey, we headed up the M5 for the evening.
We found Invention Studios, possibly a converted church, tucked away in a small back street after fighting our way through the late night shoppers and tourists. Thankfully just 20 yards from tonight's entertainment was the conveniently situated Lamb and Lion Pub. And after a repast of a few beers and nosh, we made our way across.
We walked into a small foyer with the Main Hall just to our left. To get to the acoustic room, it was downstairs two right turns, a left and to the end of a corridor. Appearing tonight were 14 artistes, all of whom are on MySpace, and all showcasing their talent.
We couldn't see every turn obviously, but we still were up and down like Yo-Yo's through out the night.
Starting in the acoustic room was guitarist for Parry:Matthews, Rob Phillips. just a three/four of gentle numbers with Anna Parry putting vocals to one. I missed
Dizzie Drummers set, though she was acting tirelessly as MC and adding percussion to any artist who needed it. Tessa Bickers set was a little bit of a let down, pity, an accomplished singer/songwriter with a soft voice was drowned out by the pumping beat from the stage upstairs.
The best of the acoustic set was
'The Little Girl Blues' with Leanne on Guitar and vocals and Trisha on Cello. First impressions you'd think Leanne fronts a rock band, but she has a great voice and has written some excellent tunes. The wonderful haunting sound of
'Laugh When it Rains' is an absolute joy.
So moving upstairs Matt Prosac aka the
'Cabaret Rat' gets first mention. His lyrics are coarse, disgusting, say what you will but that aside, this man did three 15 minute sets on his own and commanded the stage. Powerful, rude, a little bit comical, but I absolutely loved it. I met him afterwards he's a real diamond and well worth seeing live.
Now the stars of the evening were the band that made us come
to
Bath in the first place.
Parry:Matthews. You always wonder when you've heard a band's recordings whether they can match up to it live. Well the answer with this band is a resounding YES.
In a sadly curtailed set, due to a previous act over running. They had us spellbound. Anna Parry's voice hits you in a similar way Stevie Nicks does.
Simon Matthews is all energy on lead guitar and the supporting cast of Rob Phillips on Guitar, Erica Crawford backing vocals. Not forgetting drummer Tom Hammond and Neil Swift on bass.
Do Ya Love Me? is so hypnotic, you can not help but move to it.
Let it hurt is another powerful song. I read a review recently where the reviewer said their daughter cried after being played it.
I can well believe it. It's a beautiful track.
Then their set was over, way far too short.
Wrong Song didn't get played, but the music is all right.
THANK YOU guys for putting this night together
And we still we had time to pop downstairs to see a very attractive, although looking a tiny bit nervous Hollie James, and then back upstairs for 'The Heys' to play out the night.
An excellent night. Super music and to finally realise that the icons on my profile ARE actually real people. MySpace really does create friends. Some of whom, I'm looking forward to seeing again.
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1st March 2006 - Live at the Fleece and Firkin, Bristol
Parry:Matthews at The Fleece - 1st March 2006
Review by Kevin - Bristol Rocks www.bristolrocks.co.uk
I find that the Parry:Matthews CD that I have gets played frequently, so I decided to catch them at the Fleece where they supported James Rays Gangwar. Red Light Go were the first act and did a fine job of warming the audience up. Parry:Matthews performed as a three piece with guitar & two female vocalists. The rest of the musical score was taken care of with a laptop. The PA at the Fleece is superb and the sound that Parry:Matthews achieved was massive. The first song (In Deep) was an unusual blend of sequenced and live sounds that, in my experience, is unique. This led on to a set of highly original music that you will not find anywhere else in the known universe.
The music that Parry:Matthews play is highly accomplished & quite unique. Their stage show is highly polished, you will have to go see them to understand what I mean. The only disappointment for me was the lack of live musicians. If these guys kitted themselves up with a percussionist & keyboard player, they would be untouchable live as well as recorded.
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Parry:Matthews, Cabaret Rat, Mild Peril, Bullet-proof Mousse
15th May 2006 Moles Club, Bath.
A brief description of the sound Parry:Matthews make would be late nineties alternative ambient dance backing (preset and looped) with guitar crunch and effects (delay, echoes), intermittent saxophone playing and fairly easy to grasp lyrics sometimes repeated (a lot). Sounds fairly un-interesting does it not? Yes, but how come I warmed to them? This is not my thing at all. The intrigue about this pair is the very coupling, chemistry, whatever, of the two people. The guy on guitar stood awkwardly like a classic shoe gazing ambient guitarist, at times could be likened to Bernard from New Order. He sang softly up into the mic and had a Quicksilver t-shirt on. The lady was slight of build, dressed really plainly (T-shirt and jeans, no kitsch, no irony, no comical value, just t-shirt and jeans) she looked like a regular girl serving in Clarks shoe shop or something (which i really liked) and sung like Stevie Nicks! With the right melodies, a bass player, a drummer, and some interesting lyrics combined with the warmth that's already there, Parry:Matthews could be a really interesting band.
www.decodemedia.com