MATTHEW GORDON PRICE – EP REVIEW


Matthew Gordon Price – Rivalry EP 

Matthew Gordon Price - Rivalry

Release Date: 30th March 2018

The eagerly anticipated new EP from Plymouth based artist Matthew Gordon Price is nearly here but I’ve always been an impatient soul, so it was always likely that I would suffer some premature articulation of my thoughts on this particular collection of songs. The five track EP opens with the song ‘Sweet as Stone’, a song that initially continues on from the intricate acoustic folk stylings of MGP’s previous EP with a heart-broken lyric of “How couldn’t I see, what you took from me?”. Building from the firm footing of a Bon Iver or Avert Francis heartstring puller, this track is given some solace by a violin and then, well, then it bursts in to life with all the life-affirming power of a Noah Gundersen belter and suddenly, in an instant, you realise that this EP is a very different offering indeed.

‘Vixen Queen’ is up next and there’s a reassuring stomp about it that puts you in mind of Fleetwood Mac, Fleet Foxes or Mumford & Sons but with more determination. This is a song about love and lust but without the requisite requite and MGP makes use of his hand selected band to blend the delicate acoustic notes, that aforementioned rhythm, a pulsing bass line and clenched-teeth vocals to drive that emotion homes. Title track ‘Rivalry’ sparkles and glistens like winter sun on a glassy bay but MGP’s vocal has a mature, earthy tone to it that puts meat on the bones of this sweeping epic number as it floats away on the lush strings and carefully placed guitar notes.

MGP
The fourth track on this collection is simply titled ‘Numb Overture’ and is a 95 second instrumental piece that has a cinematic feel to it and could easily turn up on the soundtrack to a gritty, coming of age film made in North Wales such is it’s earthy and natural beauty. Then comes the climax of this EP, the deceptively slow starting ‘Numb’ – a song made for the late night/early morning hours. The vocals are almost mumbled as if from a defeated, world-weary man while the music struggles to keep up with him before erupting in delightful dawn-esque blast of light, sound and hope. By the time song climaxes in a chest beating, mouth foaming coda, you can’t be under any illusion that Matthew Gordon Price is the real deal. He has well and truly mastered the lush vibe and has the songs to match the ambition and the ideas so consider this EP a warning shot across your bow – there are bigger things to come from this gentleman.






Live Dates:

1st April – Hawkins Arms, Zelah
7th April – EP Launch @ The Junction, Plymouth
23rd April – Bread & Roses, Plymouth
4th May – The B Bar, Plymouth
29th June – Inn on the Shore, Downderry w/Jamie Yost (FREE ENTRY)
6th July – Glas-Denbury Festival, Newton Abbot w/Joanna Cooke + Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
17th August – Spice of Life, London w/Jamie Yost
18th August – The Vaults/The Shed, Leicester
14th October – Rod & Line, Saltash

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