Reviews
Artist:Chris While & Julie Matthews Album: Women Of The World
Label: Fat Cat
Tracks: 11
Website: https://www.whileandmatthews.com/
For over a quarter of a century and more than a dozen duo albums (not to mention many solo and side projects), Chris and Julie have represented, inspired and empowered women all over the world with their songs, the performance of which has always reflected a world-full of musical influences and styles, from contemporary folk and roots, acoustic, country, gospel, Celtic and soul - whatever fits for each lyric. As true "women of the world", they've also commanded enormous respect from the community of world-class musicians, and their latest album release features the accomplished musicianship of - inter alia - Johnny Heyes (electric guitars), Miranda Sykes (bass), Tom Chapman (percussion), Michael McGoldrick (uilleann pipes, whistles, banjo).
Chris and Julie have never been afraid to tackle the all-important worldwide issues in their songwriting, and this latest set of songs is no exception - for example, the omnipresent universal concerns of global and personal responsibility are explored in Yellow And Blue. However, this time round the focus also narrows in on specific individuals, women who have showed tremendous bravery and resilience in the face of adversity and impossible circumstances. The life stories of special friends are bestowed with a touching poignancy, as their purely personal import gains greater resonance in songs of simple and delicate beauty. Beautiful Brave Tattoo is an affectionate portrait of Miranda, while Chris's teenage best-friend is commemorated on Covered In Roses and dear lost friend Jo is depicted as a true Starfish Thrower, while on the wider world stage we learn of the inspirational Afghan tech innovator Sara Wahedi (subject of the album's title song) and celebrate the engagement of young people with politics and the environment (Seventh Wave).
On a deeper level at the personal-universal end of the spectrum, Crow examines the unfortunate, often purely circumstantial unpredictability of our emotional responses ("when anything can irritate you if you are the wrong way out"), while Pulling Weeds calls for kindness and a gentle treatment in our dealings with fellow human-beings, for "we don't always see each other's internal struggles". Then, towards the end of the album, we find a pair of songs by Julie that deal movingly with the all-too-real experience of lockdown - the ache of the missed-most-of-all Embrace (memorably set to a Steve Earle-style guitar twang and adorned with soothing string embellishment courtesy of guest Marion Fleetwood) and the reflective reminiscence of those Hollow Days which calls forth in its soulful pop-gospel chorus a "lifeboat to cling to when all hope fades".
This is an album conceived and executed with heartfelt love and thanks - qualities that are in such short supply in this unforgiving world, unless you know where to look. An album to cherish, for sure.
David Kidman
| Previous | Next |
|---|---|
| Cooper And Toller: A Number Of Work | Andrew Gabbard: Cedar City Sweetheart |
Recent Reviews
- Various Artists:Best_Day_Of_All_Time
- Toby Shaer:Amalgum
- Siskin Green:Living In The Echo
- Nick Jonah Davis:Rose Delta Rising
- Kasper Berry Rapkin & The Swamp Dogs:Blues From The Land Of The Living
- Good Habits:Better For Now
- Chrissy Amphlett:Some Times
- Carrie Martin:Le Fay
- Brothers Gillespie:Kingfisher
- Wynonna:The Hard Truth
My Salty Dog And Me
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.