'Go Don't Stop' is the first EP that Mat. McHugh, of Oz. roots royalty The Beautiful Girls', has released as a solo artist and, as such, gives us a pretty clear indication of where his head is at.
After last years TBG electro reggae opus 'Spooks' he has obviously decided to take things down a notch. All the songs here are based around simple acoustic guitar and vocal musings. His voice is up front and close mic'ed and the only percussion comes from the guitar itself and a smattering of beats courtesy of the old school hip hop drum machine of choice, the tr-808. In fact, on all the four songs contained herein, Mat. plays all of the instrumentation himself.
The lead single and catchy title track is lyrically hopefully while still containing a hint of melancholy which seems to be McHugh's modus operandi.
Second track 'Love Come Save Me' is an ode to a departed friend, three time World surfing champion Andy Irons.
After much exploration with his 'main' band, it feels and sounds like Mat. McHugh has found his zone. Stripped of artifice, simple and direct. It's refreshing to hear such simple truths in a music world that is increasingly becoming dominated by over the top production and an 'in your face' aesthetic.
Apparently the decision to start releasing his music under his own name is 'an attempt to strip away all the layers that can surround music. It's just one person, me, writing and recording some songs that document my thoughts and feelings at a certain point in my life'.
If that's his mission statement, then it's an auspicious start.
lyrics
what would you say if we had never wasted,
all of the time it took to be ok ?
what would you say if we had never wasted us ?
somedays they burn into a gold horizon,
others they fade into the course of time.
another day, another memory crumbles to dust.
throw me a lifeline now I'm starting to drown.
pull me a ripcord, soon I'm hitting the ground.
tell me,
is my time coming or a long time running
singing,
love come save me now ?
there's music blowing in the Kona winds
it's singing,
up in the clouds before the rain begins,
it's bringing me back my soul,
gave my heart to the sea.
just like the tide we all could come and go,
we could be everything we ever hoped,
so maybe,
all I could hope is one day you will remember me.
throw me a lifeline now I'm starting to drown.
pull me a ripcord, soon I'm hitting the ground.
tell me,
is my time coming or a long time running
singing,
love come save me now ?
love,
come save me now.
credits
from Go Don't Stop,
track released June 10, 2011
all songs written and performed by mat. mchugh
produced by chico delay and ian pritchett
engineered by Ian Pritchett
recorded at position x and noisegate studios
enjoy music and spread love with all of your heart.
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