'Draw' by Matthew Jay

I tend to carry around a lot of trivia in my head about artists and bands that I like. When I came to listened to this, however, I remembered very little about Matthew Jay. It took wikipedia to remind me that he’s dead now. The album itself, however, is a real treat.

Over its twelve tracks, Jay treats the listener to a collection of delicately constructed acoustic based songs, but with a real pop sheen that fits them perfectly. Though the opener, ‘Four Minute Rebellion’ hints at a record of angst, this is an album full of joy, even in its more melancholic moments. It portrays Jay as a kind of British Elliot Smith. Though it was largely ignored on its release, it still sounds great. Particular highlights are ‘Let Your Shoulder Fall’, ‘Only Meant To Say’ and ‘Meteorology’, but every track is a bit of a treat.