Matt Lax and Nearly Beloved's fourth CD, is about souls: souls lost, souls found, souls betrayed, and souls in search of redemption. The album's spare but rich soundscape of guitar, fiddle, banjo, and bass, exquisite harmonies and revealing vocals, explores empty rooms and mythic landscapes where souls are either “seeking to be soothed,” as in the track Sing Me Along, or looking toward a final resting place, as in the palm wine music- inspired Sing a Song For Us.
Nearly Beloved is a Northern California all star band, featuring Grammy Award nominated banjo player/guitarist Erik Pearson (The Crooked Jades, Evie Laden Band, Mushroom, Diane Ferlatte), bassist Paul Olguin (Mazzy Star, Victor Krummenacher, Shana Morrison), mandolinist/fiddler/guitarist Michael Stadler (Stadler Gibbons Band, Shards of Green, Clawhammer Guitar—The Collection), and Matt Lax on guitars and lead vocals (Zulu Spear, Palm Wine Boys, Lisa Kindred, Paul Pena). Pearson and Stadler also provide the CD’s background vocals, which range from wide-open country harmony to intimate duets--all honed over two decades of singing with Matt at clubs, festivals, farmer’s markets and picking parties.
Finger style guitar and frailing banjo are the musical mainstays of this CD, recorded live over two days at Laughing Tiger Studios in San Rafael, CA. The songs invoke not only American blues, country, and folk music, but strains of South African township and West African palm wine music as well. The long time bandmates weave their influences effortlessly through Matt's heartfelt tunes--and with the very conscious omission of drums. “When it came time to record this CD, we wanted all the intricacy of the guitars and banjo to be heard, and we wanted the integrity of each song’s style to live uncompromised by the cadence of drums or percussion,” explains Lax.
Some fine Bay Area guests liven up the mix: It Just Happens features a duet with powerhouse vocalist Loralee Christensen (Clarence Clemens, Ziggy Modeliste), and Mike Rinta’s Memphis-inspired horn arrangements (John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Vaughn). Astronauts and Fishermen is augmented by Richie Lawrence’s accordion (The Yolos, Loose Acoustic Trio) and Adam Beach’s pennywhistle (Zulu Spear, Romeo Void).
This House Of Mine represents a return to the acoustic simplicity of debut release Wanderer's Dream (1997). Hurricane and a Tumbleweed (2002) and Where’s Bob? (2012) are classic rocking Americana, Texas swing, bluegrass and rock (see reviews below). Matt Lax's honest voice and distinctive songwriting approach tie are a unique through line throughout.
Read more...