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Matt Hay: Inside Stories

Wellington singer/songwriter Matt Hay has a background in blues and rock but with his current band the SubUrbans his focus has shifted to the rootsier end of the musical spectrum. ‘Inside Stories’ has an organic sound favouring acoustic guitars, piano, organ and loping rhythms. This puts Hay loosely in the alt. country/Americana camp and with his lived in voice and everyday stories of beautiful losers coping with life’s ups and downs Hay draws comparisons with fellow roots rock travellers such as John Hiatt and Willy Mason or even our own Barry Saunders. There’s an economy of style in Hay’s songwriting with an emphasis on melody and an observers eye on the little things that are at the heart of his songs. The understated approach of the SubUrbans and sympathetic production from bassist Darren Watson adds to the back porch feel of an album that may not add anything new to the genre but certainly stands up to repeated listens.

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