Amongst the long list of things that influence music, location is arguably one of the most prominent. Your inner circle of friends is where you first started to discover your own musical taste, eagerly trying to introduce each other to something the other hadn’t heard. From there, you could analyze trends from the actual city that surrounds you. Punk in Salt Lake City. Techno in Detroit. Hip-Hop in the Twin Cities. Beyond that, though, even the actual geographical surroundings play a role in shaping musical tastes. The sandy beaches of California inspire surf rock acts regularly, while the jetting Red Rocks of Morrison, Colorado give way to jam bands and electro funk acts by the droves.
Matthew & Me certainly have a dog in the fight with the aforementioned argument, finding themselves musically inspired by the expansive landscape of South Devon. Far away from the mainstream offerings of cultural centers like Leeds and London, vocalist/songwriter Matthew Board and drummer Lucy Fawcett were able to craft their own sound. And, it’s one that more and more are falling head-over-heels for.
Today, we’re bringing you the first, full look at their debut EP, Starpoint. Since “Silver,” “Figure,” and “Joy,” are already floating around the blogoshpere, we’ll give the spotlight to the only unreleased tune in the bunch. “Cravings” follows suit with what fans have come to know and love from this inventive duo. There’s a strong focus on Board’s hauntingly beautiful vocals, per usual, which call on associations of other iconic leads, like Alex Trimble from Two Door Cinema Club. Differing from the other selections, the instrumentals in “Cravings” are more subdued, for the most part, slowly building with light percussion, soaring strings, and calming guitars. Emotively crafted, it evokes an intense experience, keeping you locked in throughout the entire five-minute ride.
This collection officially drops on November 18th via Beatnik Creative. If you’re a vinyl enthusiast, we strongly recommend adding this to your personal collection.
