Matthew E. White is an American artist that came on strong from the start, with a voice of his own and gained international following instantly. As corpulent as he is as a man, his music is gentle, refined and subtle. Matthew E. White showed he can emphasize the melody with arrangements that in all their richness and complexity still sound delicate and relaxed. No wonder his debut album “Big Inner” hit the charts so fast and received the glorifying reviews from the most relevant mediums and institutions. The album was supported by a lengthy 18-month tour through Europe, Australia and America, also accompanied by great reviews and satisfied audiences. “The Guardian” gave it five stars and listed it among the best releases of 2012. Overall, it was a sudden rise to the stars and a huge experience. In an interview after the tour he said: “I thought about all the places I went, the people I played to, the people who cared about my record and felt moved by it. That was the craziest year of my life by miles and miles—and the hardest and the most exciting, too.”
“Big Inner” consists of seven songs recorded with personnel of over 30 musicians: the Spacebomb House Band (Cameron Ralston on bass, Pinson Chanselle on drums and percussion, and Matthew E. White on guitar and vocals), a horn section, a string section and a ten-piece choir. It was released on August 21, 2012, on Spacebomb Records and Hometapes in the United States and Canada and on January 21, 2013, on Domino in the rest of the world. It attracted listeners worldwide with its subtle arrangements, soulful vocals and harmonies, calming ballads and tangible grooves, sometimes even funky beats and its overall peaceful and relaxing mood. It’s everything but mediocre. It sounds retro and modern at the same time. It’s a masterpiece of contemporary Americana. It’s everything a person would want to hear in a single record. Enjoy!
Big Inner (Full album)
