New Releases

MAJOR MATT MASON USA 'Honey, Are You Ready For The Ballet?' Shoeshine Records
Released 23rd September 2002

Shoeshine Records is the baby of Teenage Fanclub drummer Francis Macdonald. Scotland's answer to 4AD, it's home to a family of experimental geniuses and misfits.

One particularly noteworthy export is Major Matt Mason USA, anti-folk's self-deprecating founding father. His first album, 'Me Me Me' was released last year to critical acclaim and a mass of lovestruck sighs. The follow-up, 'Honey, Are You Ready For The Ballet?' is set to have the same effect. With its confused tales of love ("How can I act like somebody else / When I don't really know who I am?", 'Mittens'), loss and security fences, it has a wealth of delightful tunes and an acutely aware, honest style.

There's the breathless, heart-stopping swell of 'Follow Her', the simplistic melody of 'You're A Girl' and the warming, bittersweet 'It's All You'. When Matt sings "You make me feel / Like I don't feel / What I'm feeling" ('It's All You'), it rips your heart from your chest and nails it to your forehead without a whisper of warning.

Elsewhere, on 'Surface Depth', there is a deep, stomach-rumbling double bass like REM's 'Nightswimming'. The clear standout is 'Pet Rock', an echoing shuffle leading into an explosion of bluegrass banjo.

Throughout, there are strains of Buffalo Tom, the original folk legend Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, but it still has a knowing New York twang. It's essential for those times when the never-ending supply of over-produced, super-shiny, deep-fried drivel begins to burn: a quiet, understated masterpiece.

Emma Ferrell