Matt Joe Gow - EP Review: Closer To Tomorrow
In early 2023, Matt Joe Gow released album number 4, Between Tonight And Tomorrow, to widespread critical acclaim. Not only did that include 5-star reviews, Matt also took home the 2023 MLT Songwriting Award. Extensive touring in support of the album showed its title track becoming a popular fan favourite. Closer To Tomorrow is a revisiting of that album, tracked live at Woodshed studios in Melbourne. Joining Gow's acoustic guitar and vocals on the thoughtful and introspective track is Andrew Pollock's mandolin, combining to make a slightly slower paced, open, and soulful rendering than the original release.
The EP offers 3 distinctly different takes on the song. Each is called a slightly different version of Between Tonight And Tomorrow, with the first having the additional '(Reprise)' in the title. Track two is Between Tonight And Tomorrow-Remix. Having recorded Reprise, Gow's long-time engineer Chris Elliot suggested taking things a step further. Remix is a tribute to their shared love of 90's trip-hop artists such as Massive Attack and Portishead, and that love shines through in this version. Whilst I admired and enjoyed the dark beauty of Reprise, Remix has excellently captured the sound it was aiming for, a deliciously lazy beat languorously underpinning floaty layers, lovely stuff.
The third realising is named Ambient Version, just when you thought that this song couldn't possibly get more chilled out. Another collaborative effort with Chris Elliot, ethereal beauty is the name of the game here. Minimal instrumentalism provides a beautiful backdrop, a deep pulse coming in around the one minute mark. The other two tracks on the EP are instrumental versions of Remix and Ambient Version.
All in all, a wonderful celebration of a song beloved by his fans, and a thoughtful offering. A superb addition to the catalogue of an artist who continues to rise.
About Matt Joe Gow
As alternative country and Americana continued to grow in popularity, Matt steadily toured and supported acts such as Chris Isaak, The Jayhawks, Justin Townes Earle, James Reyne, Kasey Chambers, Marlon Williams, Jimmy Barnes, Mark Seymour and John Butler.
Whilst regularly making demos and working on other projects in the studio, it would be 2016 before the next Matt Joe Gow record, Seven Years, was released to critical acclaim. The record was self-produced by Matt and guitarist Andrew Pollock. After touring and playing numerous festivals in support of the record, and encouraged by its positive reception, Matt returned to the studio in 2018 to make the follow-up, Break, Rattle and Roll. An ambitious record with keys, horns, pedal steel and backing vocalists supplementing the core band, it was again released to wide acclaim and accolades including the Music Victoria Award for Best Country/Americana Album Of The Year. In addition to full band shows, Matt undertook a solo tour with Grant-Lee Phillips, with Phillips posting that [Break, Rattle and Roll's] "Bridge Over Concrete is on constant rotation in my head!".
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Matt Joe Gow
Releases
Other Reviews By Peter K Malthus
Beat Rhythm Fashion - Album Review: Critical Mass
07 May 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Beginning life in Wellington's post-punk Terrace scene of the late 70's and early 80's, Beat Rhythm Fashion went on an ostensibly indefinite hiatus in the mid 80's, only to reform 35 years later. Brothers Nino and Dan Birch had been the cornerstone of the trio in its heyday, but sadly Dan passed in 2011.
Read More...
TheSlacks - Album Review: Information Ape
02 May 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Scott Armstrong (vocals, rhythm guitar), Mark Armstrong (vocals, lead guitar), Blake Gibson (vocals, bass guitar) and Zane Greig (vocals, drums) are collectively TheSlacks, Taranaki's answer to the question "What do you reckon a cross between Johnny Cash and Sublime would sound like?" Information Ape is their new album, their third after 2003's Suppressed Inventions and 2014's Welcome To The Rolling Vibe, and they're embarking on a 4-date tour to coincide with New Zealand Music Month to support it, their mums think they play Folk-Rock, they themselves think they play Country-Ska, but apparently they actually play Adult Contemporary Pop...
Read More...
Gig Review: Dragon @ Town Hall, Christchurch - 18/04/2024
20 Apr 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Dragon is a name long since synonymous with rock & roll in Australasia, and the band is currently enjoying an 8-date tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Starting April 12th in Invercargill, the tour will work its way slowly up the country, to wind up in Auckland on April 27th.
Read More...
Sounds Escape - Album Review: Midnight Drive
18 Apr 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Sounds Escape is the solo project of Logan Wedgwood, an Auckland based drummer, guitarist, and composer. Sounds Escape started coming into being during lockdown, and having released two EPs since 2022, Midnight Drive is his debut full length album.
Read More...
Cian - EP Review: All New Ways Of Life
22 Mar 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
All New Ways Of Life is the introductory offering from Wellington-based Hardcore Metal outfit, Cian. Connor Matthew (Guitar, Vocals), Navah Chapman (Guitar), Dylan Jonkers (Bass, Vocals) and Zed Ramsay (Drums) have delivered four raging slabs of blistering-hot Metal on this EP and are hungry to take over the world with their punishing, riff-laden sound.
Read More...
Jackie Bristow - Jackie B And The Mini Band - EP Review: Summertime
22 Mar 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Jackie Bristow has had a career on a continuous upward trajectory, since being discovered at the tender age of eight, in her primary school's choir. In the time since then, she relocated to Australia, and then on to Nashville in the USA, regarded by many as that nation's "music capital".
Read More...
The Mons Whaler - Album Review: Hold My Gun
29 Feb 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
The Mons Whaler were formed in the Taranaki area, by Hemi Coates (vocals & guitar), Andre Peri (percussion & backing vocals) and Phil Hoskin (bass, guitar backing vocals). Multi-talented Courtnay Low joined forces with them, on keys, backing vocals and lead guitar.
Read More...
Empyrvore - Album Review: Nadir: Empyrean
12 Feb 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Nadir: Empyrean is the latest release from Wellington-based Empyrvore, and their first full length album. It has been a labour of love for its two creators, Jared and Mike, who followed the complete DIY path for recording, mixing, mastering, and releasing...
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- TOO SWEET
Hozier - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - FORTNIGHT
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Tommy Richman - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Benson Boone - I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
Artemas - I CAN DO IT WITH A BROKEN HEART
Taylor Swift - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - DOWN BAD
Taylor Swift
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
