Matt Corby – Telluric

Corby’s debut album carries the sentiment of a personal diary in audio format, each song representative of another chapter of his life: the highs, the lows, passion and woes. His temperate and evocative tone has been well-produced and balanced effectively to fully showcase his range and technique, which is effortless and graceful. Undoubtedly, with such strong vocal ability, his live performances will be impressive and perhaps best enjoyed in an intimate, sit-down venue.

Originally from Australia, Corby’s musical journey actually began on Australian Idol at 16, and his identity and musical style has inevitably developed since then. The 25-year-old multi-instrumentalist is already a force to be reckoned with, blessed with an innate ability to manipulate emotions and tell a story, which is demonstrated from the start of the album to the very end.

The opening neo-soul, slow-jam Belly Side Up trickles like honey, offering a simple and sultry start to a multi-faceted collection of songs. Monday begins with a haunting chorus of beautifully constructed harmonies and journeys on with tribal drums. Knife Edge picks up the pace a little and is reminiscent of 90s artists D’Angelo and Maxwell.

Yet more evidence of the clever production can be appreciated in swinging Sooth Lady Wine, offering psychedelic jazz vibes, funky bass and interesting breaks, whilst Good to Be Alone plays on the heart strings within seconds, with Corby sounding like a modern-day Jeff Buckley, swathed in melancholy. Considering the ethereal undertones throughout, the album’s title, Telluric, meaning “of the earth” seems almost ironic.

Where many down-tempo records can become monotonous, Corby’s voice and the shift between jazz, R’n’B, soul and folk influences create a colourful canvas that an array of listeners can relate to. The sound in its entirety is well orchestrated, versatile and poignant, with the capacity to conjure feelings and emotive visuals, suggesting it could be ideal for film soundtracks also.

Aneequa Sameen

Telluric is released on 11^th March 2016, for further information or to order the album visit here.

Watch the video for Monday here: