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A gentle giant with an unassuming voice and a knack for distilling New Orleans R&B, Tropicália, and '70s soft rock into a sweet and smoky, Southern-style indie pop confection, Richmond, Virginia-based singer/songwriter and arranger Matthew E. White's Hometapes' debut, Big Inner, is as frustrating as it is cosmically transcendent. Part Allen Toussaint, part Chico Buarque, and more than a little bit of Harry Nilsson, White's musicality (he moonlights as the leader of avant-garde jazz band Fight the Big Bull) is impressive to say the least, and stand-out cuts like "Steady Pace" and the nearly-ten-minute "Brazos" suggest a real musical awakening. The soulful, sultry opener "One of These Days" serves as a great litmus test for what follows, casting a languid spell over the listener with its measured, neo-soul build and lush ornamentations. In fact, White's arrangements (his string parts are pure, Sail Away-era Randy Newman) are so good, that it's tempting to write off the fact that his deadpan, pitchy delivery nearly sucks the life out of them. That said, fans of Arthur Russell, Fred Neil, Lambchop, and even the National may be more forgiving, as White's gift for sonic world building is on display throughout Big Inner's 40-minute run time, and while he may sound like a Donny Hathaway-obsessed, Palace-era Will Oldham, or an even less-interested M. Ward, his old-school affectations never feel like shtick.
© James Christopher Monger /TiVo
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Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Andy C. Jenkins, Writer - James Wallace, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Andy C. Jenkins, Composer - James Wallace, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Andy C. Jenkins, Lyricist - James Wallace, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Andy C. Jenkins, Writer - Eddie Prendergast, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Andy C. Jenkins, Composer - Eddie Prendergast, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Andy C. Jenkins, Lyricist - Eddie Prendergast, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Jimmy Cliff, Writer - James Wallace, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Jimmy Cliff, Composer - James Wallace, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Jimmy Cliff, Lyricist - James Wallace, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Washington Phillips, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Washington Phillips, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Washington Phillips, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Andy C. Jenkins, Writer - Cameron Ralston, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Andy C. Jenkins, Composer - Cameron Ralston, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Andy C. Jenkins, Lyricist - Cameron Ralston, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Andy C. Jenkins, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Andy C. Jenkins, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Andy C. Jenkins, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Matthew E. White, Performer - Matthew E. White, Writer - Jorge Ben, Writer - Matthew E. White, Composer - Jorge Ben, Composer - Matthew E. White, Producer - Karl Blau, Mixer - Matthew E. White, Lyricist - Jorge Ben, Lyricist
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
Album review
A gentle giant with an unassuming voice and a knack for distilling New Orleans R&B, Tropicália, and '70s soft rock into a sweet and smoky, Southern-style indie pop confection, Richmond, Virginia-based singer/songwriter and arranger Matthew E. White's Hometapes' debut, Big Inner, is as frustrating as it is cosmically transcendent. Part Allen Toussaint, part Chico Buarque, and more than a little bit of Harry Nilsson, White's musicality (he moonlights as the leader of avant-garde jazz band Fight the Big Bull) is impressive to say the least, and stand-out cuts like "Steady Pace" and the nearly-ten-minute "Brazos" suggest a real musical awakening. The soulful, sultry opener "One of These Days" serves as a great litmus test for what follows, casting a languid spell over the listener with its measured, neo-soul build and lush ornamentations. In fact, White's arrangements (his string parts are pure, Sail Away-era Randy Newman) are so good, that it's tempting to write off the fact that his deadpan, pitchy delivery nearly sucks the life out of them. That said, fans of Arthur Russell, Fred Neil, Lambchop, and even the National may be more forgiving, as White's gift for sonic world building is on display throughout Big Inner's 40-minute run time, and while he may sound like a Donny Hathaway-obsessed, Palace-era Will Oldham, or an even less-interested M. Ward, his old-school affectations never feel like shtick.
© James Christopher Monger /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 7 track(s)
- Total length: 00:41:00
- Main artists: Matthew E. White
- Composer: Matthew E. White
- Label: Domino Recording Co
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd 2013 Domino Recording Co Ltd
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