The RGM Inbox: May 2021
Are you looking for new and interesting music? Well, if so, you’ve come to the right place. The latest Inbox feature from RGM has music from both sides of the Atlantic and a detour to visit our friends in Australia. The journey was most worthwhile as we unearthed some great new music and a demonstration of a cover tune done right. Check it out and we’ll be back very soon with more musical gems.
Photo credit: Rick Clifford
Opening this latest edition of the Inbox we’ve Australian singer and songwriter Al Matcott and his debut single ‘Mediocre’ which I’m pleased to report fails to live up to the title. Formally a drummer and guitarist/singer in a variety of bands (Euphoriacs, Honey Badgers and Buried Feather) Matcott’s solo work has been compared to Pavement and Bright Eyes. ‘Mediocre’ has an easy swagger built on a solid rhythm track with Brendan West’s prominent bass playing a highlight, add a light smattering of steel guitar and Matcott’s way with a lyric “Don’t waste my time with your dick-measuring bullshit” and this is pretty cool. A full EP ‘You Can Be Anyone’ will follow on August 6th, 2021.
Photo credit: Alysse Gafkjen
June 18th 2021 is the date to mark in your diary for the latest release from Dylan LeBlanc via ATO Records. Recorded live in as few takes as possible ‘Pastimes’ was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and finds the singer and songwriter delving into the songs that influenced him growing up. The six-track selection features songs by JJ Cale, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Buffalo Springfield and the first single from the EP a sumptuous version of Glen Campbell’s ‘Georgia On My Mind’. Anyone unfamiliar with Dylan LeBlanc should delve into his back catalogue of releases including personal fave ‘Cautionary Tale’. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
“I come from a heavy country music background. My father made his living as a writer for the Nashville Machine growing up. My grandfather in the early 70’s in his early thirties was convinced to make payments on a Gibson guitar on consignment at the local music store along with a song book with the scales and chords and hit songs of the era inside with directions on how to play them. He loved this song and it was heavily played around the house and passed and sang at gatherings and parties where everyone was drinking and laughing and feeling no pain as they say. I love the story of this song about a drifter roaming from place untethered to anyone or anything therefore making the moment of missing his muse more pure. I can relate as I have naturally always wanted to roam from place to place and be free. I love this song so much and it holds a nostalgic and wonderful place in my heart”
Next up we’ve Ski Team which is actually a solo project rather than a band from Brooklyn singer, songwriter and guitarist Lucie Lozinski. The original idea was for Lucie to form a band with her brother but he already had a band so Lucie struck out on her own with help from friends along the way. "It's pretty timely, as it's about not being able to move on—which I think everyone is kinda itching with right now." is how Lucie sees the latest Ski Team single ‘Photos’ which was released digitally on April 30th. ‘Photos’ is rather lovely as it builds slowly with sweeping strings and percussion complimenting Lucie’s light vocal harmonies and understated acoustic guitar. Balancing the venerability of the original song with a more expansive orchestral production can be difficult but Lucie pulls it off.
Regular RGM readers should need no introduction to Elgin but for any newcomers, Paul Butler and Anthony Furey previously toured and recorded as The Young Folk and Elgin is the next step on their musical journey. The duo has an album ‘Weightless/Still’ set for release on May 28th via Pixie Pace Records and their latest single from the record ‘Stone’s Throw’ is out now. The single is an impressive calling card for the duo as the song builds gently around a tinkling keyboard motif, swirling synths and light acoustic guitar before the percussion adds urgency and an anthemic power to proceedings. Check out the video featuring a beautifully choreographed dance from Aiobhinn O Dea.
And so concludes another brief dip into the calming waters of the RGM Inbox. Hopefully you’ll have found something you like, but in the unlikely event you didn’t we’ll be back very soon with more cool tunes from artists that deserve to be on your playlists, or even better in your LP/CD collections.
When it comes to LP Box Sets there can’t be too many acts more suited to the format than Pentangle. The Folk supergroup released six albums in a mere four-year period from 1968-1972 and these are now collected, with a host of bonus material, on a very smart-looking 14 LP deluxe box set via Svart Records on 16th April 2025. A breakdown of the release including a full tracklisting follows: