Matt Costa
Matt Costa
Matt Costa releases a new album, 鈥淟oving You.鈥�
The self-titled fourth album from Matt Costa is a charming venture back to the vintage sounds of the 鈥�60s and 鈥�70s.聽
The California singer-songwriter follows up 2010鈥檚 鈥淢obile Chateau鈥� with more traces of the British Invasion through an indelible assortment of personally sophisticated arrangements.
Originally wanting to create a melancholy album featuring a moody and downbeat tempo, Costa captures the hypnotic genius of Nick Drake鈥檚 1970 masterpiece 鈥淏ryter Layter.鈥�
鈥淟oving You鈥� opens with a lush string introduction, only to transition into an infectious pop tune with traces of Donovan鈥檚 folk-pop and the glam rock of T. Rex.
Costa鈥檚 first release for Jack Johnson鈥檚 Brushfire Records was recorded in Scotland at Castle Doom in Glasgow with longtime Belle and Sebastian collaborator Tony Doogan.
The lead single, 鈥淕ood Times,鈥� possesses the back-to-basics, organic feel of John Lennon鈥檚 鈥淚nstant Karma.鈥�
The simplistic 鈥淥phelia鈥� offers a stripped-down accordion and harmonica filled arrangement, eerily sounding like Bob Dylan in his prime.
鈥淓arly November鈥� is a soothing love song with an airy feel resembling a classic Burt Bacharach arrangement, while 鈥淓yes for You鈥� is a breathtakingly haunting love song with Costa鈥檚 wife providing the ethereal backing vocals.
The playfulness of 鈥淪hotgun鈥� is enchantingly supported by the weight of the soaring strings, driving beat, whimsical melody and downright contagious vocals.
The somberly sweet 鈥淕olden Cathedrals鈥� closes the album with a Simon and Garfunkel elegance and grace, serving as an appropriate ending to an impressive piece of work.
The intimate and poignant lyrics offered by Costa innocently accentuate his well-crafted songs making for a sentimental, reflective and gratifying experience.
Unfortunately, Costa doesn鈥檛 have a scheduled Pittsburgh date on his latest tour list.
But Costa will perform in Cleveland on April 9 at the Beachland Ballroom.
A three-hour drive is only a minor inconvenience to have the opportunity to catch this emerging artist in his musical prime.