Elly Roberts reviews
Cerys Matthews: Don’t Look Down
Distributed by
Rainbow City Records
English version: 
Welsh version:
- Released: October 2009
- Rating: 10/10
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Welsh songbird Cerys Matthews,
once voted the Sexiest Female in Rock (Melody Maker 1999) must be cockahoop with her new album.
Don’t Look Down is a drastic shift from her debut solo, Cockahoop and its follow-up
Never Said Goodbye.
Her first album was deeply rooted in her then surroundings in America, when she was married. Her return to Wales (and now London) has brought a much bigger musical vision set in the 60s and occasional dips into her ex-band’s repertoire. There’s no attempt to become another Duffy however, though I’m sure she’s noticed what her compatriot has been up to.
After several ups-and-downs following her departure from Catatonia – a divorce from Nashville record producer Seth Riddle, a relocation to her beloved Wales and much publicised fling with an I’m A Celebrity…contestant, this album acts as a form of catharsis.
On the lush 60s Into The Blue she declares,” I’m not looking for trouble, trouble always finds me,” though her spirit remains upbeat.
In a recent showing on BBC 1’s The One Show, she admitted it was an album of positives, hence Don’t Look Down.
Broadening her musical horizons, Matthews includes some huge production values a la Phil Spector found on the cinematic sweep of Arlington Way, a strong single in the making. Those soundscapes are littered masterfully across the entire collection however.
Keeping the retro-feel, there’s also nod in the Motown direction on perky dance -bound Smash The Glass, while sweet filigree ballad Aeroplanes veers towards a ’68 mood, providing our Cerys with one of her best vocal performances ever.
There’s a grittier epic touch to the laidback Spider And The Fly whereas It’s What’s Left is mostly chaotic hi-octane pop proving the lady can still pack a punch.
Salutations takes the form of a desperately lonely mum noting a diary to a smooth and stylish sweep and hushed voice: the jewel in the crown. Then she goes all bold and brassy like some of her Catatonia days on punchy A Captain Needs A Ship, with edgy Heron hinting at 40s angst.
Matthews has written some great pop singles…but this is her best work to date, no question.
The verdict – Very, very impressive.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
