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Matthew Jay's recent death at age 24 may finally give his debut (and only) album the attention it deserved at the time of its original release. Ignored by American music buyers, "Draw" is an excellent collection of guitar-based love songs, accented with electronic touches and a glistening production sheen. Jay's baritone voice puts John Mayer to shame, while his songs resonate with youthful charm and vulnerability. "Draw" was a promising start to a tragically short musical career.
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I cannot find a link on Amazon to the new album of Matthew Jay's earlier cuts and recordings, Too Soon. But worth checking out I'm sure. 'Draw' has kept me going on many a lonely and wistful night; its vivacity, honesty and beauty is unmatched in many of his peers' music. A real pity that he died so young.
Note to Lee Armstrong, Jay is not an Englishman but a Welshman! A big difference in this small part of the world... Thanks.
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Awesome listing, very sad to loose such a wonderful artist at such a young age.
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It's not so unlikely, is it? A talented kid from South Wales shifts from smashing heads on the football field to writing sensitive songs about life, death, loss and love. Such is the story of Matthew Jay, whose debut album, "Draw," could mellow out any linebacker out there.
Jay's acoustic thumbing and electric ripples create a sound that hovers between the likes of Nick Drake and Coldplay. Weighty words surf on his swift, streamlined beats and wispy melodies. Jay's voice is shy and soft-spoken, hitting each note with robotic precision- almost unfit for the passionate themes of his songs.
But perhaps this wallflower subtlety is what makes the rest of "Draw" so intriguing. Despite his distant whisper, Jay's words are remarkably startling and clever. "You licked the tears right off my face," he chants in the kickoff song, "Let Your Shoulder Fall," while spewing sunshine harmonies and a swiveling beat. Jay's melodic groove continues in the steady "Meteorology," and "You're Always Going Too Soon," a dazed, jittery verse that sounds as lonely as its title.
Throughout "Draw's" cloudy overtones, Jay maintains a paper-cut edge that's lyrically bittersweet. His best work comes from the more experimental tracks: the instrumental "Molasses" is eerie and pushy, "The Clearing" is refreshingly jumpy, and "Please Don't Send Me Away," tackles the theme of "a bloke trying to get into heaven." These would make great blueprints for Jay's future endeavors.
At first listen, "Draw" may seem a bit backgroundish and lost in space. Jay's fading voice often drifts so much that one may wonder if he's left the studio, maybe to take a bath in his own introspectiveness. But whenever the listener hears Jay wander off, he ought to move quickly to catch up. After a few spins, "Draw" becomes wistful, fluid, and surprisingly addictive.
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Matthew Jay wrote most of these songs in his bedroom. Success from David Gray's "White Ladder" helped Jay receive a recording contract before he'd even appeared live. "Draw" is a promising debut from this Englishman. Its pop melodies jangle joyfully throughout the CD, consistently engaging. The opener "Let Your Shoulders Fall" sets the pace with full arrangements and an original melody. I have 3 favorites on the disc. "You're Always Going Too Soon" is a pretty midtempo tune where Jay's voice floats into the upper register, "Sometimes life can hold you down; I can see your face as clearly now, today as I could then and it doesn't fade." Psychedelic feedback opens "Call My Name Out" before Martyn Watson's electric guitar blasts through followed by Jay's soft vocals and a thumping bass line, "Love isn't the only thing that's on your mind with that crooked smile." "The Clearing" bops along joyfully with great percussive clicks and clacks throughout on this pretty toe tapper. "Draw" is good throughout, an impressive debut. Enjoy!
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