tex la homa - if just today were to be my entire life
second album from matt shaw's gen-x project. having been completely enriched with the bands first album i was eager to hear the new one. coming out on new usa label (hybrid electric) where i understand tex la homa have played some successful gigs recently i feared that the experience may have tainted matts vision and dimmed his talent as he would decide to become a aor rock hero.
fear not.
if you heard the first lp and loved the warm ambience, the subtly layered guitars/effects, matts rich vocals then this is a direct continuation of that special groove. where there is a difference though, is in the strength of the songs. there is a much more direct approach in the melodies and by the 4th listen the highlights are coming on strong. matt still wraps his songs with high elements of electronica. the slight clicked beats, fat synth chords etc. but these add to the overall effect, and are not present to mask the lack of song structures a la previous shoegazing types.
'of electronic origin' is a typical tex track. clean guitar lines, whispered vocals, uptempo laptop beats juxtaposed against the laidback vibes. a wonderful track but when the distorted guitar kicks at 3.5 minutes and layers on top of the song, it is just completely serene and propels the track into new territories and makes the song very special.
next up we have matt showing us where the house of love could have really gone had they not fell apart under the extreme commercial/critical pressures bestowed upon them. as compared previously, when matt sings properly, he has the same rich tonal qualities that guy chadwick used to carry his songs with. 'in the clouds' is a perfect example of what i wanted from a house of love song ... heartfelt emotions, rich basswarmth and delicate guitars.
other standout tracks - 'paper car', and 'when you close your eyes'. both have stop in tracks melody. spine tingling stuff. no way to go into detail as all the usual tex la homa elements are there, tis just the way it all gels on these tracks and flows seamlessly.
then there is the sore thumb track. 'wrote to say' an instrumental uptempo orbital style electronica, different. and fits. just.
overall, matt has crafted an excellent style and has really hit the right spots with several tracks on this lp. perfect for those post ikea tortuous experiences, bear in mind this is not an lp to get vibed up, but one to get definitely mellowed out with.