Artist:     Matthews Southern Comfort

Album:     Like A Radio

Label:     MIG

Release Date:     3.20.2018

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In ´80s a snarky joke went something like, One valley girl asks another, Did you know that Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings? That came to mind when I became aware that Iain Matthews (an original member of Fairport Convention) had a new recording with his group Matthews Southern Comfort. Back in 1969, I got Matthews’ first album in a package of forty LPs as a wedding gift. Now I could probably only name ten of those long lost (with the marriage) LPs and Matthews’ would still be one of them.

Life rolls on and most of us roll up and down with it—more times than an old window shade. It’s those ups and downs, and universal bad situations seemingly beyond our control, that have given a boatload of material for Matthews to write about here. I would factor in his living all over the world for four decades, something he sings about on the track “Bits and Pieces.” After the first few listens, I got curious and looked into his long musical history. Now living in the Netherlands, he is supported here with three seasoned Dutch Comforters, Bart Jan Baartmans, Bart de Win and Eric De Vries. Together they present 15 tracks (including some former MSC remakes) with as much vigor and musicality as Iain did way back when. He tips his cap with another run at the Gillette-Campbell folk evergreen “Darcy Farrow” that could hush up any UK pub from Skipton to Southampton.

On his new songs, e.g. the title track “Like A Radio” or “The Age Of Isolation” which suggests to me Woodstock—What Happened? Matthews’ melodies, harmonies and production taste remains steadfast. The recording and the mix is pristine, (don’t listen to it on sh*tty speakers) just pull the shades, pour the wine, light a candle and listen, you will like it. Even when putting forth bummer situations, personal or political, Matthews finds ways to make them sound really good. There’s just one thing I would have liked to have heard more of. Another tune like his reprise of James Taylor’s “Something In The Way She Moves.” It’s good to lift the shade sometimes for a little more light to shine in and give us much needed hope.

—Ken Spooner