Album review: Mattiel's self-titled release

Designer, illustrator, set builder and furniture maker Mattiel Brown has a lot of things going on – and yet she still had the time to throw singer-songwriter into the occupational mix. This album is the fruit of a collaboration between InCrowd and Mattiel, with the songwriting split evenly over the course of nine months.

It was recorded live on a vintage analogue Peavey soundboard, with all 12 band members present. The LP finds the Georgia-born southern belle exploring ‘60s rock and roll melodies, with a very 21st century sense of irreverence. Think noisy. Dirty. Less frock and more who’s wearing the trousers? Her voice acts as the fulcrum, balancing the layers of brass and guitar, with the zinging hi-hat grooves holding the entire cacophony together.

The songs vary in theme, from the exploration of the American Revolutionary War in ‘White Of Their Eyes’, to despair over an alcoholic sibling in ‘Baby Brother’. As the record progresses, Mattiel’s unique sound loses some of its retro flair and adopts a more modern sheen. It’s the landscape of the dry, unforgiving burnt grass of her roots changing to the modernity of Atlanta’s suburbs.

Dublin-bound in November, Mattiel’s distinctive blend of Americana is well-worth checking out.

Rating 8/10