Blue Pastoral
Mama Bird, 2022
8/10
The singer-songwriter Matt Dorrien returns with a sophomore album, where themes of aging, new love and peace surround the bright, rich and colorful textures.
“Twenty Years” starts the listen with warm piano, as smooth vocals and upbeat drumming enters the folk meets baroque climate, and “Baby, Will You Come Back Home?” follows with some breezy jazz ideas entering the cozy melodies that Dorrien seemingly delivers with ease.
Halfway through, “The United States Of Nothing” finds an intimate place to reside, where poetic singing is met with mature keys and strings, and “Friendly Face” takes a similar route with the stirring keys matching the introspective singing.
Close to the end, the frisky “Teddy Wilson” is a charming spin on today’s indie-pop with plenty of soulful backing vocals, while “Strangers Alone” exits the listen sparse, eloquent and very memorable.
A very diverse outing that embraces surf, samba and jazz, Dorrien’s inimitable version of cautious, comforting indie-rock unfolds like an evening with an old friend.
Travels well with: Anna Tiven- The Question; Yves Jarvis- The Same But By Different Means