Well I got to see one of the brightest talents on the Canadian scene on Friday evening and saw him in a one of a kind show with a one of a kind band. Matt Mays is on a coast to coast winter tour promoting his second, most explorative solo album, When the Angels Make Contact, a soundtrack to a shelved film that Matt apparently has decided to put on the backburner. A strange way to go about it, but When the Angels Make Contact can be construed as a strange album, considering Matt's solid rock n' roll image he set with his debut album with El Torpedo. It is strange in a good, refreshing and unique manner that I feel will turn both El Torpedo fans and newcomers into converts. This is not to say Matt doesn't rock on WTAMC, it is just he does so much more. Techno-Electronica, Rap, Funk, Floydian segues are all apparent. He actually steps back from the mike to allow Alanna Stuart, (one of the numerous musicians Mays collected to record the album, giving the members of El Torpedo-drummer Tim Jim Baker is along for the ride- a holiday), a stunningly beautiful and smooth and soulful vocalist, do the duties on Under My Senses. To say this album is strong, albeit unusual step in Matt Mays' career right after hitting stride with El Torpedo's debut and a #3 cross Canada hit with Cocaine Cowgirl, has some truth. After seeing him live (a show which consists of the album, beginning to end, concept complete with no hesitation) and digesting the CD pretty solidly for well over 2 weeks, I feel words like brilliant, epic, and visionary could also be inserted and not be out of place. From the opening scratchy dialogue to the final track Mornin' Sun (one of the most simple and honestly beautiful tracks to be released by anyone, anywhere I have heard recently), Matt Mays' When the Angels Make Contact is a stunning achievement.

http://www.whentheangelsmakecontact.com/
http://www.mattmays.com/

Below are photos from Friday night's show.

All photos are copyright 2007 Lucid Musings Photography www.lucidmusings.com