Family Stereo - Matter EP Review
This promising debut EP perfectly leads towards an exciting career filled with more small intimacies and sincere expression.
The brainchild of North London singer-songwriter Blake Watt, his debut EP Matter opens a window into his world and the lives of those he loves who surround him. An ode to all the small moments and little things that go unsaid being brought to the forefront, these four tracks acts as the perfect an invitation to the insights and reflections of Watt, succinctly sitting at the perfect length of 16 minutes.
It’s probably best to ignore the title of bedroom pop for the artist which, whilst fitting for the literal meaning of making music in your bedroom, doesn’t quite match the sound that portrays something more along the lines of folk or folk-esque (artists like Aldous Harding and The Microphones comes to mind).
The first track ‘Take Care’ gently builds towards its chorus, in between sweet whistling sounds and a sonic journey that feels like a feat considering the length of the song.
The second track feels like a more intimate affair as Watt pauses time to look through the memories. The suppleness of the lyrics are clever and acute, relaying through relatable introspections as he corrects past behaviours in the eternal realm should of, would of, could of, being sung in between soft drum fills.
Imagery about the sky runs amok throughout the EP, a reference to something bigger than us existing amongst the personal worlds we live within. Just like in the track ‘Fall Back’, with lyrics like “If skies would fall in place with gravity then I'd keep you safe up here”. Shoegaze guitar sounds add a dreamy ambience, also a mark of where future sonics on forthcoming releases can go towards,
The titular track that closes out the EP highlights the well thought out, seamless track listing of the project. Written about caring for someone who find themselves in a difficult space, the longest song of the four holds a passion that further cements the authentic display of emotion and care at hand. Repeated phrases put an emphasis on getting this message across, accentuating the fragility of human beings and how yet we still mean something against how small one might feel.
What works best here is the delicacy in the message, the layers built upon with the acoustic guitar acting as a starting point and where the other instruments come in to add character and embellishment. There’s no need for grandeur and complexity here. This promising debut EP perfectly leads towards an exciting career filled with more small intimacies and sincere expression.