Matt Costa: Unfamiliar Faces
Friday, 11 Jan 2008 12:30
Matt Costa returns with Unfamiliar Faces
Brushfire/Island, out January 14th.
In a nutshell…
Melodious. Easy listening. Introspective. Upbeat. Serious.
What's it all about?
The former Californian skateboarder releases his second album under the Brushfire/Jack Johnson label, a follow-up to 2006's Songs We Sing. On Unfamiliar Faces, Costa once again teams up with music producer Tom Dumont, the No Doubt guitarist who produced his debut album.
Unfamiliar Faces is a further exploration by Costa into the depths of songwriting, with his most treasured possessions as the inspiration for the 12 songs. Costa penned the lyrics and music in his green bedroom in Sacramento, where he stared at beloved items - including a giant wooden pipe, his favourite books and a box of 1950s records - on a shelf.
Says Costa: "I let my imagination wander. Regular life isn't as exciting as an imaginary life."
Who's it by
Skateboarder Matt Costa turned to music during an 18-month recovery period following an accident. The Huntington Beach local compares songwriting to skateboarding: "Any instrument that allows you the freedom to be creative, whether it be a skateboard or a canvas, it's all a tangible way of discovering yourself."
Producer Tom Dumont knew he was onto something when he heard Costa's music and mentored the budding performer and produced his debut album.
What followed was a van tour through the States, stopping off at major music fests such as Lollapalooza and Coachella. Collaborations with Jack Johnson and Elvis Perkins were also on the cards, as well as with The 88, whose Adam Merrin features on the keys on a few tracks on Unfamiliar Faces.
Now 25, Costa is philosophic about music and reflects on his writing of Unfamiliar Faces by comparing songs to the room where he created them: "You can come into a room and every day feel different about it. I feel the same way about songs, each time you listen to them you can find something new."
As an example...
"Your surprises wear disguises/All of your truths masquerade around on Hallows Eve/So I'll never know what you show to unfamiliar faces." - The title track
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Costa is a cult hero and not really a critics' favourite, so while a Grammy nod seems thoroughly deserved for a troubadour of his class, it may be a distant dream at this point.
However, Jack Johnson – whom Costa is perennially being compared to – received a nomination last year, so there might be a surprise nomination on the cards for this rising star.
What the others say
"His sophomore effort shows evidence of this musician's maturation into a serious songwriter." - Matt Kettmann, the Santa Barbara Independent
"Strangely enough for a man with an all-American pedigree, Costa's voice sometimes seems to betray a bit of a Liverpool or Manchester twang ... in fact there's a distinctly British tinge to the whole album." - Harry Holgate, BBC
"It would be a shame if this album got overlooked because of its release date, at a time people are strapped for cash because I would go without beer money to hear more from Costa." - Glenn Meads, Manchester Evening News
So is it any good?
Unlike so many other sequels, Unfamiliar Faces sees Matt Costa go from strength to strength as musician, lyricist and singer.
A varied album, Unfamiliar Faces features 12 tracks each with a distinct atmospheric feel created by the choice of words, instruments - piano, harmonica, guitar - and that haunting voice. But despite the uniqueness of each song, they form a perfect harmony as a whole, no doubt thanks to a maturing of the artist, but also the expertise of producer Dumont and the good people at Brushfire - whose independent stamp is all over Costa.
While his sophomore offering can certainly be classed as deep and melancholy at various points, these sections are perfectly balanced with the foot-tapping tunes such as first single Mr Pitiful and Miss Magnolia: the summery, bouncy pair that respectively opens and closes Unfamiliar Faces.
On their own and as part of the whole album, each song serves to showcase Costa's versatility and maturing as an artist. While his sound may be too relaxed and soothing for many, there's a certain Dylanesque-edge shining through on this album, which even the cynics will have to admire.
8.5/10
Karen Moller
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