Matt Perish is a singer/songwriter who explains on his Bandcamp page that his music dwells on stories, people, and places untold. That to me is a longer way of saying he writes music about life and the human condition. Suffice it to say it’s a broad subject he tackles on Downstate.
His music leans towards the melancholy and felt connected to artists like Fleet Foxes and Elliott Smith. The first song “Cairo” specifically reminded me of Fleet Foxes. He even sounded similar to Robin Pecknold. The song starts with percussive elements and the fading in of an acoustic guitar. It’s warm and in fact covers you like a blanket of solace. The feeling is reflective and sort of stoic. The imagery I had in mind was looking at a vast landscape upon a mountaintop. “Cold Treatment” has a little more of a melancholy vibe and was grounded on earth. The vibe here felt a little more Kurt Vile. That being said as the song progresses additional guitars make the song sound subtle, more beautiful and even fragile. He sings, “people keep talking about me / getting into my head.” A striking line that I think everyone can identify with. Next up is “Local” which goes back to the first song where I felt like it was being sung in the Appalachian Hills. There is also a haunting quality to this song. It swings back and forth while posing existential questions. The lead guitar which sounds similar to something Johnny Greenwood would play is one of my favorite musical moments. The song is brief but the brevity is impactful. Last up is “Boy Blunder” and that initial guitar melody reminded me of “Disarm” by Smashing Pumpkins. The vibe did feel more ’90s to me and less folk based which was hard to pinpoint. The lyrics are striking and Perish creates a sense of empathy. This is a tight and cohesive release with emotionally resonant songs. The top notch recording, delivery and songwriting created an immersive experience. Take a listen.
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May 2024
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