2016 – Hipsterdumpster
Records
By Phillip Smith; July 30, 2016
Hailing from Perth, Australia, Matty T. Wall proves his band is indeed a musical force to be reckoned
with. With blues and rock at the
forefront of his ten track debut album, Blue
Skies, Wall interestingly
gravitates towards jazz and grunge as well, masterfully concocting his own
creative and unique blend of sound. Backed
by drummer Jasper Miller and bassist
Stephen Walker, both also from Perth, Wall could not ask for a better rhythm
section suited for his music. They really make his songs shine.
Wall revs
the listener up with hot Texas style electric-blues in the album opener “Burnin’
Up Burnin’ Down”. An energetic cover of Keb Mo’s “Am I Wrong” sweetly follows. Wall
delivers the goods on Jimi Hendrix’s
“Voodoo Chile”. This nearly twelve
minute long jam is a soulful and psychedelic treat. The guitar solo is simply
amazing. The track “Scorcher” certainly lives
up to its name. Here, Wall goes full-on rockabilly, turning
his dial to eleven, doling out fast and furious guitar licks. Miller’s
performance on drums is simply outstanding.
The melodic title track “Blue Skies” is a wonderful listen too. This beautiful song captures the essence of
early Nineties Seattle grunge.
For the pièces de résistance,
Wall breathes new life into “Hellhound
on My Trail”, Robert Johnson’s
legendary tale about the aftermath of his deal with the devil at the infamous Crossroads.
Wall
artistically sets a dreary mood for the song using sound effects of rain and
thunder. Miller pounds the drums as if to mimic the sound of a racing heart
in distress. There is a definite
heaviness padded with layers of anxiety built into the music. It fits perfectly to the lyrics.
What Matty T. Wall has done with Blue
Skies is tremendous, not only for blues, but for music in general. The album is indeed a masterpiece.
for more info on Matty T. Wall, visit his website at http://mattytwall.com/
