Apparently, Cardiff-based, award-winning singer-songwriter Giles Matthews is known primarily as a lyricist. It’s a depressing thought given the contents of the title track and lead single from his latest album, which was co-written with John David, who’s a renowned producer and penner of hit songs, and who’s worked with, amongst others, Mark Knopfler, T’Pau, Robert Plant and Shakin’ Stevens: ‘this kind of loving / it’s a contact sport / we’re playing hardball / playing hardball’. Or how about ‘The joker turns the cards while the thief steals the laughter from your eyes / the night says “come with me” as the moon dances…’ (‘Spellbound’)
Musically, this is a straight-ahead rock album. It has swagger, and draws on elements of country, blues and Americana. Vocally, Matthews shares similarities to Ian Astbury, and the aforementioned ‘Spellbound’ shifts from delicate slow-burning acoustic goth-rock to hollering stadium rock in a way that’s pure Cult. Personally, I don’t mind The Cult (musically, if not lyrically) so I’ve no beef here. ‘Devil at the Crossroads’ is a big rock anthem, old-school style, wile ‘Modern Girls’ comes on like ‘Electric’ era Cult and ‘Eliminator’ era ZZ Top, and packs all of the classic rock tropes (including, it would seem, classic sexist stereotypes) into four minutes with suitable vintage grunt.
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In all, it’s not bad, As long as you don’t listen so closely to the words.
Giles Matthews Online
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