‘My posture starts to fold.’
For me, Matty Awbery is probably the most important and intellectual singer/songwriter of modern times, having had the privilege of reviewing his work for some time now, it is always exciting to see what he will come up with next.
Never one to shy away from the difficult topics, he chooses to delve into the awkward moments, the scenarios we would be too scared to touch, and he negotiates and navigates through them, cultivating a path for us all to tread without fear.
The latest single is ‘Fold’ and instantly I get a little Joy Division in this slow burning, secretly creeping up the back stairs number. The song doesn’t gather any pace, I thought it might speed up a little but that was just me jumping the gun. I’m not disappointed though, it is this steadiness, and reliability that reinforces the mood and substantiates the theme and message of this track. It is haunting and daunting, you approach with caution as if you are in danger of waking the sleeping giant, instead you get a sadness, an acceptance that age and time are against us.
This is the essence of great songwriting, no frills, no fuss, no fanciful notions, just straight down the line truth, integrity, impulse and intuition.
When you wear your heart on your sleeve, the softness and vulnerability are exposed, and through this you get the strength to endure. It is time to acknowledge, accept, and embrace new music, bring it back into the fold, or risk losing it forever.
Azra Pathan
The Wolf Howls When I Scream Your Name – Fold out now