IT MAY be early on, but 2013 will have to see some good releases if Big Inner is not one of the albums of the year.
What’s all the more remarkable is that Matthew E White marks his debut in such an astonishing fashion. Seven songs are spread over 42 minutes of gospel-touched pop music that has a bottomless soulful reach, on occasions going so deep that some of these songs seem to resonate in the ground beneath your feet.
White, from Virginia, is said to be the son of missionaries and there is certainly a seam of religion through the core of this album, which reaches a crescendo in the ten-minute closing track, Brazos, which builds to a gospel chant.
At the other end of proceedings, opener One Of These Days slides in with casual grace, with Big Love builds layers of sound until each brick has made a soaring wall. Steady Pace is a lovely, lilting soul song, while Hot Toddies is a warm hymn to winter drinks (so it’s far from all about religion, as there is whisky and love in there too).
White, no mean guitarist, works with a core band of bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Pinson Chanselle, then adds choirs, strings and horns to create the fullest sound you are likely to hear all year.
Perhaps most remarkable are the different moods White summons – easygoing, sensual and electrifyingly passionate by turns. At times his voice is reminiscent of the soulful side of TV On The Radio, but mostly he just sounds like himself.
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