The Matinee ’23 v. 051 is full of thrills and chills with the ten songs diving into the darkness, dancing under the pale moonlight, or descending into the quietest parts of our souls. This mini-playlist basically is made for a “quiet” Friday night at home or even on the road. 

These tracks anchor The Songs of March and April 2023 playlist on Spotify and SoundCloud. 

The tracklist for today’s The Matinee is as follows:

PJ Harvey – “A Child’s Question, August” (London, England)

RIYL: PJ Harvey + Nick Cave

As we had hoped, PJ Harvey’s tenth studio album – and first since 2016’s The Hope Six Demolition Project – is coming and very soon at that. Specifically, I Inside the Old Year Dying will be released July 7th via Partisan Records. Given that the legendary British artist has traversed countless genres throughout her career, trying to predict where she will land is a fruitless enterprise. Instead, we simply should appreciate that one of music’s most influential artists is still creating. And that she still knows how to awe, as “A Child’s Question, August” reveals.

Pensive, melancholic, yet ghostly and haunting, Harvey startles with patience and grace. The arrangement is relatively simple and immensely restrained with the methodical drum beat, which sounds like the rhythm of a defeated army returning to camp, driving the track. Ambient synths shimmer behind while Harvey’s changing vocal is in front. She recites the passing of time and those that inspired her, including Elvis Presley. “‘Love Me Tender’, tender love,” she sings, and her words are a nod to The King’s 1956 hit single. They also could mean much more than that, such as saying goodbye one last time to the people we’ve lost over the years. 

Pre-order/-save I Inside the Old Year Dying on Bandcamp or these links. Everyone knows it will be great. 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

M. Ward – “Supernatural Thing” (Portland, OR, USA)

RIYL: M. Ward

M. Ward is one of the greatest song-crafters of the last 20 years. His storytelling alone would be enough to make that statement a fact, but when you consider his undeniable guitar chops, it may even be an understatement. He’s also among the great collaborators. Whether it’s with Monsters of Folk over a decade ago, his albums with Zooey Deschanel as She & Him, or countless other appearances on records over the years, Ward always brings warmth to everything he is a part of. On June 23rd, Ward will release Supernatural Thing, which he considers an “extension of Transistor Radio”. The LP will feature contributions from First Aid Kit, Neko Case, Scott McMicken, Jim James, Shovels & Rope, and Kelly Pratt, showing that others also wish to collaborate with the living genius.

The album’s title track, “Supernatural Thing”, is about a dream Ward had where he smoked with Elvis. The track is distinctively M. Ward with his smoky vocals telling a story in a way only he can. Acoustic guitar and brushed drums drive most of the tune. Mix in some fiddle, some sustained guitar chords, and Ward’s pristine, finger-picked electric guitar lines and you’ve got the perfect M. Ward track. Then it kicks into a great little throwback guitar solo that only adds to the presence of Elvis. It’s a conversation that would never happen, but it’s fascinating to think about what these two generational performers would discuss. 

“Last night a supernatural thing:
A smoke with Elvis
You wanna say it was a dream
Well I think I would have known

So I bring a message from The King
On this new morning:
‘You can go anywhere you please'”

Pre-order the ANTI Records release on Bandcamp or at these links. 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Tiberius b – “Jetski” (London, England via British Columbia, Canada)

RIYL: Caroline Rose, Kate Davis, Katy J. Pearson

Canadian-born, London-based singer-songwriter Tiberius b‘s time as a Hidden Gem is numbered. Their 2021 EP Stains reminded us of the artist at the start of this musical selection – PJ Harvey. With Mark Ronson’s Zelig Music behind them, it’s just a matter of time before the power of Tiberius b’s music is realized on a massive scale, and “Jetski” could the start of something big.

“Jetski” only solidifies Tiberius b’s trajectory. It starts out in a misleading way with pop-like harmonies, bouncing drums, and some crystalline guitar. Things turn turn when the bass kicks in. Those calm early moments turn surreal between Tiberius b’s lyricism and the haunting qualities of the track’s chorus. There’s an unpredictability throughout that borders danger, and at any moment the song can fade to nothing. And yet, it can confront listeners, as the chaos is contained. “Jetski” is an immense and unapologetic clash that results in an utterly captivating track. 

Tiberius b’s new EP, DIN, is out June 30th on Mark Ronson’s label Zelig Music.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Protomartyr – “Elimination Dances” (Detroit, USA)

RIYL: Fontaines D.C., Shame, The Murder Capital

There is little debate within the post-punk community that Protomartyr are one of the finest. Some would even argue one of the 21st Century’s most influential and important bands. They along with outfits like Preoccupations and Savages helped usher in a new era for the genre, one that was stark, brooding, and electrifying. Joe Casey, Greg Ahee, Alex Leonard, and Scott Davidson, however, have not always waded in these waters during their 13-year career, as the spine-tingling, psych-tinged, country-western tune “Make Way” demonstrated. However, the darker side is part of their DNA, and they let it come out on “Elimination Dances”.

Whereas some bands will attempt to strike fear in its audience through waves of crushing noise and bruising intensity, Protomartyr opt for the opposite on their newest single. A trembling, glistening guitar sears through the uneasy calm of the percussion and the probing bass line. Casey’s booming vocal, though, possesses the starkest, most trembling qualities. It is on the verge of cracking and breaking down, but Casey never does. His desperation is his means of survival, as he faces his eventual doom in front of his tormentor. Or is it his God? The storyline is frighteningly wicked and imaginative. 

“I was sucking on a rubber ear
For your and my amusement
Terms of service, they ain’t so clear
Pale youth is my replacement”

Protomartyr’s new album, Formal Growth in the Desert, will be released June 2nd via Domino Recording Co. Pre-orders are available at these links and Bandcamp.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

The Deepest Shade – “Realize” (Atlanta, USA)

RIYL: A.A. Williams, Marriages, Chelsea Wolfe

A year ago, a little band from Atlanta had us floating in our seats, as they unveiled a turbulent, shoegaze dazzler in “Drifting”. The Deepest Shade are, of course, that band. Jennifer Stone, Cory Thorpe, Stephen Thorpe, and Kevin Elmore left us enthralled with the track’s soul-revealing lyrics and its immersive sound, which was present throughout their debut EP, Reflections. 

That mix of introspection and atmospheric sounds can manifest into music that’s both dark and beautiful. That’s exactly what The Deepest Shade’s latest single “Realize” is. There is a darkness that pulses throughout the opening moments. A steady drumbeat and a sinister bassline set the tone. The guitar builds, switching from clear moments to amplified distortion. It all provides the backdrop for Stone’s dreamy voice and her tale about how pain can be completely defeating. Stone, however, finds the strength to fight through it. As the track kicks into a whirlwind of driving power chords and roaring guitar leads, she sings:

“I know joy but I feel pain
It’s my foundation
Never happy with myself
How can I change
This won’t kill me
I’m stronger than I look
Just had to reach the edge
And take a look”

Simply brilliant.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Hannah Georgas – “Beautiful View” (Toronto, Canada)

RIYL: Tomberlin, Cross Record, Squirrel Flower

Last month, Hannah Georgas had us overcoming past pains with the forward-looking “This Too Shall Pass”. It followed her 2020 record, All That Emotion, produced by Aaron Dessner, which came out after Georgas spent time supporting The National as well as being a member of their live band. These things had us asking how after almost 15 years and a handful of Juno nominations Georgas’ music still doesn’t get anywhere near the appreciation it deserves. This summer, that may all change when she releases her next LP via Arts & Crafts. 

“Beautiful View” perfectly picks up where “This Too Shall Pass” left off. Georgas says the new single is “about seeing beauty in the things we can take for granted”. It’s the realization that a beautiful view can be found anywhere in life when put into perspective. There’s plenty of beauty in the sound of the track, too. Georgas’ voice has a nostalgic layer to it that is reminiscent of coming through some old speakers playing back an imperfect cassette tape. It’s the perfect aesthetic to be paired with mostly acoustic guitar and far away percussion and ambient synth. “Beautiful View” is as striking as it is haunting. 

“I’m the last one you need to be worried about
Falling in and out of myself just like everyone else
Burn it all down to the ground
Someone’s loss
Something found”

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

L CON – “Ordinary Girl” (Toronto via Guelph, Canada)

RIYL: Jenny Hval, Christine & The Queens, Someone

If you do not know Lisa Conway’s name, today is a great time to remember it. As L CON, the Canadian multi-instrumentalist is music’s equivalent to a modern art gallery – you just don’t know what you’re going to experience but each exhibit will cause you to think. And they may also stick with you for a long time, like the multi-sensory “Heimatot” did. She is an example of why artists are referred as such instead of as musicians, and “Ordinary Girl” is another demonstration of her unpredictable craft.

The single starts with a hazy suspense, as beats lightly dabble in the background while Conway’s voice is soft and sultry. The subdued arrangements creates an atmosphere often associated with smokey, ’50s jazz clubs, and the shallow bellows of the sax and occasional guitar tingles add to this feeling. And in such a setting, an inevitable, unexpected rendez-vous happens, and Conway recounts how she crosses eyes with someone from across. At this point, the track gets sexier and more mysterious with the sax and guitar playing the lead roles. Conway’s voice remains full of desire, but what does she truly want? Is the connection she yearns for physical or psychological? You be the judge.

“I wanna be I want to be just like you but also me
Someone you’d think is cool to be
an ordinary extraordinary, ordinary extraordinary girl”

L Con’s new album, The Isolator, will be released May 10th on Idée Fixe Records. Pre-orders available on Bandcamp and the label’s store.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Sharpless – “People In Love” (Brooklyn, USA)

RIYL: Crying, LiSA, Lady Gaga

Sharpless‘ The One I Wanted To Be left quite an impact on anyone who stumbled upon it. Whether it was catching one of their wild live shows with projections and sweet choreographed dance moves or just hearing Jack Greenleaf and Montana Elliot sing relatable songs about getting older and the strength that can be gained from the people around us over J-pop/rock-inspired instrumentals, the duo was absolutely magnetic. Sadly, in 2021, Montana Levy, the force also known as Montana Elliot, passed away. Outside of her contributions to Sharpless, she was a giant in the New York music scene. She played in other bands including Bellows and The Glow, and she worked behind the scenes at Bowery Ballroom and other venues. 

In 2020, Greenleaf and Levy recorded “People In Love”. Over the last year, Greenleaf completed it with the unfinished vocal track from Levy. The other day, he released it on what would have been Levy’s 31st birthday (read Greenleaf’s heartfelt note), and “People In Love” is the definitive Sharpless song.

The track kicks off with Levy’s laugh, and then it explodes into some wild vocal effects and a wall of electric sound. Then there’s moments of clarity in the verses with Levy’s voice mostly untouched over some great synth. The choruses are sources of immeasurable joy. It’s a song about how empowering love can be, how it consumes us, makes us scream, and, in the final lines, doubt it all. But more than that, it’s one last song from an incredibly powerful voice. Montana forever and ever.

“Can’t think of anyone else worth knowing
My hearts a cup that you filled up
And now it’s overflowing
Your jawline pressing up to mine
Singing unison
On every line
Two people in love
Just screaming
There are things
Still worth believing in”

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Keaton Henson – “I’m Not There” (London, England)

RIYL: Yo La Tengo, Broken Social Scene, Andy Shauf

What makes Keaton Henson one of the great songwriters today is his use of contrasts and contradiction. Specifically, the title of his songs and the words he expresses often have a different meaning. Take the title of his forthcoming, new album, House Party, which by no means will be a dance-oriented record. It also likely won’t be one that someone spins at a dinner party. From what we can gather from the sobering yet captivating “The Meeting Place” and now “I’m Not There”, the LP will likely be a reminder that there are people in this world that care about us even if they are not standing beside us at the moment.

A summery, upbeat indie-pop vibe emerges immediately with the jangly guitar riffs and the light patters of the percussion. Henson’s voice also is full of energy and even sounds optimistic. His words, however, say something different. They are a plea for help, where he tells his partner that he physically may be home but mentally he is somewhere else. Henson is struggling, and his hard-hitting and honest lyrics reveal his state of mind:

“Honey, I’m home
Don’t let me be alone
I’m so afraid of all the things that I might see
Feed me a line
Baby, I just need some time to be myself
Or find out who the hell that might be”

House Party is out June 9th via Play It Again Sam. Pre-orders are available on his online store.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

 

Lontalius – “Tangerine” (Wellington, New Zealand)

RIYL: Youth Lagoon, Novo Amor, Cigarettes After Sex

Eddie Johnston’s progression as Lontalius has been interesting to observe from afar. Early on, he was known for more upbeat electro-pop and bedroom-pop. The music was his outlet, showcasing a different side to the largely reserved Wellingtonian. Lately, however, he’s been slowly sharing more of himself, including his thoughts, desires, and dreams, and he’s accomplished this with a much more serene and intimate approach. That seems fitting when writing a sensational, queer love anthem in “I Want I Want I Want” and a song intended to raise spirits, which he did on “Right There”. Now he reveals his most deepest emotions on “Tangerine”.

Johnston’s newest single is simply gorgeous. His whispery voice lightly dances across the beautiful piano melody and the dashing of synths and rhythms. At times, he sounds like he is caught in his own thoughts, and other moments he seems to be speaking quietly to us, as if we are his closest confidantes. All the Kiwi artist wants is the same thing many of us do – to be lost somewhere with the person we love the most. 

“So can we
Just sleep ’til the summertime
And leave all this shit behind
Kiss on the shore
Turn the look on the door
So can we
Just sleep ’til the summertime
And leave all this shit behind
Kiss on the shore
Turn the look on the door”

Lontalius’ new album, Life on the Edge of You, will be released June 9th via PBWH and Kartel Music Group. The LP can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp. 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Follow The Revue On...

FacebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagramFacebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Share This Article On...

FacebooktwitterredditpinteresttumblrFacebooktwitterredditpinteresttumblr