RECOVERY - A Matchbox Xmas collection ( Songs of recovery, new beginnings and triumph).   

Our great new music album "Recovery" has been reviewed by the wonderful and newly bearded Dave Chislett ( above ) . Dave is our Matchbox reviewer, a publicist, music journalist, published author and bass player from Johannesburg, South Africa. He was born in Portsmouth, but he can't help that. Down south in Africa he punts a few bands, plays a few tunes and reviews music from all over the planet. The results can be seen below. Full tracklisting down below also on the right.

Amaranth above 

Amaranth – Look Back You’re Dead

A dense mass of dark guitars and a solid rhythm section combine to underpin a crystal clear vocal delivery line. The combination brings to mind early heavy rock bands of the late sixties and early seventies. The song features a very lo-fi production on everything but the voice. It’s an interesting mix, and one that certainly grabs the attention. Amaranth is anything but typical sounding and with several nods to psychedelic rock means to stay that way. None the less, a clever structure makes this tune catchier than you might think.

Dead Next Door – Twenty Seven

This track introduces a melodic vocal line over a base of very simple drums and guitar, whisking you along to the chorus and then depositing you back on the chugging verse… it’s simple but very well done. A song that drags you along from start to finish through sheer momentum. But thanks to the lyrical whimsy of the melody, this is a far from boring tune whose roaring and jangling guitars will ring in your head for a whole.

Hollywood – Every Word I Never Said

Citing influence like KISS and White Snake, it’s no surprise that this gentle ballade from Hollywood sounds pretty glam. Fashioned in the well worn tradition of rock ballades, “Every Word I Never Said” features all the pieces you’d expect: the angsty, put-upon lyrics, the dragging snare drum and picked guitar line, topped off by the occasional big crescendo, just to let everyone know that the band isn’t really a bunch of wusses. Somewhat predictable, but well executed.

Igor Balakirev mixing with rock royalty above.

Igor Balakirev – The Best

A Russian and a trained choir conductor, Igor delivers a very different little tune here. Featuring only piano, strings and voice, “The Best” is a jaunty, catchy tune. It’s definitely not pop music. Maybe more like a chorus line you’d hear in an Andrew Lloyd Webber production. That comparison tells you everything you need to know about the quality of this artist… he’s a bit hard to pigeonhole though. But it is very very catchy indeed! And Igor’s voice is clean and pure and soars effortlessly over the music.

Just Six Numbers – Taught Me To Fly

A seriously funky number from English band, “Just Six Numbers, “Taught me To Fly” steams relentlessly along at quiet a pace. It’s unusual for a song with so much virtuosity in it to remain so catchy and listenable, but some how the band gets it right. Think the kind of punchy, snappy bassline that you might remember Level 42 for and combine it with a Fine Young Cannibals vocal delivery and really sweet jangled guitars and you’re getting close to what this crew sounds like. Another one of those Matchbox bands that you’d really like to hear two or three more songs from so you can get your teeth into their sound!

Loadas Moon – Don’t Look At Yourself

Glam metal is obviously coming back in a big way, thank you The Darkness! Loudas Moon combines a fairly basic rock backing band with a unique ACDC style vocal… I am still not quite sure if it’s a guy or a girl despite repeated listenings! This is a big, ponderous rock number that lumbers along in no particular hurry, rescued entirely by the unique voice and some nice guitar breaks. Close, but no cigar I reckon.

Man With No Image – S.O.S.

A quintessential jaunty English pop tune, complete with chirpy eighties style synth effects. Think Men Without Hats with slightly less silly lyrics and a very up beat, happy sort of rhythm. There’s a smattering of Madness-era ska, a good dollop of Squeeze’s “Cool For Cats”, Altered Images style art-pop and god knows what else in here. On the whole, perhaps a tad too self conscious to be a highly successful pop ditty but catchy and silly enough to hold the imagination most of the time.

Mountains and Hills – Dr. Menda

An old school rock rollicker, complete with cow bell and hollow snare drum, Dr. Menda thunders out a convincing message. Also very retro rock in approach and production it features lots of fancy guitar work and some nice breaks and changes in pace. The subtle addition of some clever keyboard work also changes the feel of the song from being a traditional balls to the wall rocker into something a tad more interesting. A good voice unites the package to make Mountains and Hills definitely more interesting than your average rock band.

Polaris – Feel

It’s actually a pity this is such a rough recording, as the vocals start to distort just as they sound like they might get interesting. This starts of as an innocuous sounding little pop song. But as we go along you begin to realize something all together darker is going down adn the crescendos of the song are wild… and could be awe inspiring if recorded somewhat better. This is a well written interesting song; you can hear that through almost anything.

Funky outfit Renegades in action above

Renegades – Sex Panther

Another English outfit, Renegades mix up some funk with some brit-pop and something uniquely their own to dish up Sex Panther. This is a simple, powerful song. Great vocals drive it along relentlessly and the break outs into washed, overdriven guitar lines really really work. Mainly because they are not overdone or overworked. Intimations of greatness lurk here, the occasional whiff of the Happy Mondays and the Rolling Stones. Powerful and convincing stuff.

The very cool Shirley Jane inventing a new fashion above.

Shirley Jane – I used To Love You (but I don’t now)

This is something a bit different! Darkly atmospheric and equally compelling, Shirley Jane has come up with a potent mix that I feel will be a successful recipe. The rolling drum and bass line underpins her husky, low vocal excellently. And although this is a somber, slow and dark song, it has an uplifting feel to it, a haunting beauty that transcends the delivery. The rising tones on the keyboards give it just enough to take it from gothic misery to transcendent beauty. Excellent stuff.

Something After Death – Lament

London based Something After Death is a young band with some very high ideals. This angry and loud sample of their wares confirm what their bio claims, they are into some rally heavy stuff! While there is definitely something here, “Lament” doesn’t quite reach these self declared objectives. A slightly dragging rhythm doesn’t sit well with the screamo vocals and some of the changes seem forced and over played. None the less, a sold base to grow from and definitely one for the Louder! Louder! brigade.

  The Eventide – Falling

Liverpool based The Eventide straddle of couple of modern genres all at once. Kicking off “Falling” you’d be forgiven for expecting a nice soothing brit pop tune, but it swings and eddies between more blistering chouses and the sedate verses. It’s a mix that is uneasy, but pleasingly slow. Don’t be fooled though, this is no heavy metal band, but they certainly churn up the expectations a bit. The main attraction is definitely the accomplished vocalist and some clever structural variations in the song itself.

The Grey Blues bend – My Dirty shadow

Delicious. A sound you can submerge yourself in, only to emerge and wonder where you are. Dreamy yet focused, drifting yet directed. The Grey Blues band hail from Portugal and play a mind-blowing mélange of styles that is utterly unique and captivating. Just as Portishead blew up the trip hop scene, these guys have the sound to create a whole new genre and expectation of modern music. It is lulling, calming, disturbing and just plain brilliant.

  The Hip Young Gunslingers – The Torch

It’s amazing what you can do with a simple, driving bass line and a solid drum groove. Inject a smattering of piano and a very solid, throaty vocal line and you have The Torch from the Hip Young Gunslingers. Simple, emotive and very powerful. This is a great song. It’s not a ballade exactly, but it’s certainly down tempo. The kind of song that brings a lump to your throat when you hear it unexpectedly on a Sunday morning, on a misty late afternoon. More of this and the Hip Young ones will have an impressive gun belt indeed.

The Oppenheimers above

The Oppenheimers – Caught In The Middle

A straight up rock band and proud of it. Not something you’ve heard many English bands declare in the last ten years! The Oppenheimers certainly rock it and deliver a full blown rock and roll ethic in their songs. Some nice crazy details sets up the song from the word go. Unfortunately for me, the big rock finish kinda ruins the more interesting angle the rest of the track has developed, but hey, I’m fussy, what can I say? It’s a no brainer that these guys are dynamite live, you can here it in this recording. I am sure they have more and better songs up their sleeve too.

Timothy Allen above 

Timothy Allen – Our World today

An acoustic guitar intro with a French female spoken rap sets you up for your introduction to the acoustic, folk tinged world of Tim Allen. But its way more complicated than that. This is a gently sweeping epic song whose introspective lyrical nature is beautifully reflected in the composition and orchestration. What at first seems like and odd juxtaposition (the rap and the gentle sung main vocal line) soon becomes another aspect of a powerful and well delivered song. I especially enjoy the piano denouement.

Tom Roberts Band – Everyday Days

Occasional singer Gennine brings an amazingly old-school feel to this modern blues jazz number. Its easy, slow, soulful music that seeps into you gradually, the door to your mind opened by this delicate but powerful female vocal. The shuffling drums and tinkling piano bring to mind Joe Jackson with some of his earlier swing and jazz experiments. This is great stuff, Off the wall, quirky and very accomplished.

Tom Roberts band – Kiss Kiss

This stuff is sublime. Latin Cuban rhythms with a delicate English rose singing… well, she sure sounds like one here! The Buena Vista Social club definitely sparked a rekindling of interest in this style and this is a great example of a modern take on it. The undoubted skill of all the players and of vocalist Gennine combine to make a timeless sounding song that is quite hauntingly beautiful.

Wake – Allstars

A powerful rock number, Allstars is fast and furious and definitely has ill intent. Nice stuff. But its not all dumb power and no nuance - good breaks and rhythm changes keep interest high when a mere thrashorama would have left me yawning. The guys hail from Peterborough way but I suspect will be breaking out pretty soon. As an example of what they do, Allstars is a powerful calling card for Wake, I for one hope they have the repertoire the back it up, because this sounds like a band that could go far.