Matthew Pickering - Up at the Bunkers EP Review
While sitting down and looking out of the window on a bleak Auckland day (more suited to autumn than spring), Matthew Pickering’s EP ‘Up at the Bunkers’ brought a welcome ray of sunlight across the table.
Matthew’s day gig by all accounts is in Parliament as a Hansard Editor, checking over the report of the proceedings of the House. I wonder if he also studies another Hansard – Glen, the Irish vocalist/guitarist/actor from the The Frames and The Swell Season, and The Commitments.
From the jaunty opening title track to the closer, seven songs hence, this record has the feeling of summer about it.
The blend of acoustic instruments used throughout (extremely well plaid banjo, picked guitar, fiddle and gentle piano to name just a few) bring a welcome contrast to the usual electric instrument mix, and make it seem cacophonous by comparison.
I can imagine foot tappers such as Hands Up and Fumble for Change taking on more a foot stomping air if they ever see the light of a live stage. The highlight of the EP, For Mr Satie, moves from joyous to haunting and back again with the flick of a bow.
With seven tracks, none of them overly long, it’s long for an EP but it certainly doesn’t out stay its welcome. And wouldn’t you know it… just as the last few blasts on the trombone signals the end of the EP the sun breaks through the grey Auckland sky.
A lovely ending to this warm and intimate record.
About Matthew Pickering
In 2006 he released is debut recording 'The Planetarium' EP, followed by the beautiful 'The Burnside Church' album released in 2011. On the 1st October 2012, Pickering is releasing his third musical offering ‘Up at the Bunkers’ - a lovely, considered seven-song collection that speaks of couch-surfers, seaside adventures, gatherings of friends and other tales.
‘Up at the Bunkers’ was recorded over several months at the Surgery, engineered by Lee Prebble with a rag-tag band of talented friends helping in the musical arrangements including Brendan Schenk (banjo) who also performs in Pickering’s live band. They will be performing a national tour of intimate venues and house concerts during October.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Matthew Pickering
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