Music releases

Released

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Producer

Matt Ward

Private Ear Recording

Independent

Catalog No.

1126

Matt Ward has something up his sleeve for the Prairie music scene: the soundtrack to a fresher, warmer season. His first album, Thrift Shopping, brims with crisp sound and personality. With roots in the small Manitoba town of Oakbank, Matt has branched out personally and musically over the past 2 years, and Thrift Shopping tells a tale of transition with each track. Schooled only by his insatiable curiosity and two years with the Winnipeg Folk Festival�s Young Performers program, Matt�s debut album never tips towards the tired. His love for photography and travel have given him an impressive arsenal of songwriting tools, and months spent in the Rocky Mountains and in Asia are storyboards where he�s crafted poignant musical escapes. Listening to his songs feels intimate as a photo album or a campfire surrounded by friends. Local legends Hugh McMillan and Cara Luft join Matt on this album, helping to expand his sound, and add rich layers to his bare singer-songwriter honesty. Other musical contributors include Andrew Vaillancourt (Lead Guitar), Gary Gach (Drums) and Micah Bell (Bass). Thrift Shopping brings Matt�s experimentation to polished heights, without sacrificing the youthful rawness he is so loved for. The album borrows playfully from folk, blues, and rock, creating a voice all its own. Thrift Shopping�s earnest lyrics and melodies will bounce around in your head for days, as it grasps at what it means to live and love today. The invitatory track, �Jet Plane,� weaves optimism through wanderlust, and the title track tells of love through a romp at the thrift store. For Martin Sexton followers to James Keelaghan groupies, here is a young musician with the soul of a true storyteller. The self-produced debut album was recorded and mixed by Neil Cameron at Private Ear Studios. Additional engineering was done by John Paul Peters, with mastering by Spectre Recording and Mastering.