If anyone could make me feel empathy for inanimate objects it would be Matthew Morgan. Over a contemplative acoustic guitar his rich baritone shows an impressive vocal range all the while maintaining a powerful emotional presence. You can picture him sitting in a room viewing the inanimate objects that inspired this wondrous collection of songs.
Throughout the EP Morgan continually looks to a past that was filled with tragedy but doesn't lose his hope. "We could build a little house from the sticks and stones," He encourages in SticksNStones, the chorus of which brings me to the best elements of the 90's alternative folk scene. The "whoa" is one of those catchy vocal parts you will find yourself singing after just one listen. Even the whistling conveys more of a care free attitude that says 'maybe things were bad but we can move past this together.'
Or consider how the minimalist folky opener, Songs Like These , which swells as it takes you into the album. "You don't really like to cry" becomes "It's so nice to see you smile" with stronger harmonies backing him up as he moves into a more optimistic tone. Special shout out to the church organ on this track. This is a tough instrument to use well and but Morgan pulls it off nicely.
First Day begins with a door closing (a nod to the song topic of leaving behind a troubled home) while the song seems to "click" into place as would a music box. The theme continues with the quaint plucking violin over the despondent accordion as Matthew spins a tale of a desperate lover "sipping bourbon in the candlelight waiting for the house to get quiet." Even after this gut wrenching lullaby, Morgan crawls out of the emotional muck to remind the us this is "the first day of your new life."
This is a very refreshing EP that warrants numerous listens as there is much to discover; particularly musically. From an Americana take on Sam and Dave's Hold On I'm Coming to the surreal beauty present on Lost At Sea, Matthew Morgan shows there is a lot of weight in those Inanimate Objects. Honestly, he tells us from the beginning what this album is about. "You don't really like to cry" he tells us. So he won't make you cry. But he will make you think.
For more Matthew Morgan visit matthewmorganmusic.com
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