Iain Matthews – How Much Is Enough (Sunset Blvd): 13th Floor Album Review

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Since first gaining recognition as part of the English folk rock group Fairport Convention in the 1960s, Iain Matthews has had a varied career, releasing numerous albums that blend folk, country, and pop influences. Now living in the Netherlands, Matthews continues to perform but keeps a relatively low profile. His new album, How Much Is Enough, combines melodic folk rock with introspective lyrics that delve into themes of human connection, uncertainty, and resilience, all delivered through his gentle, emotionally resonant voice.

The album features a talented ensemble of musicians who complement Matthews’ understated, acoustic-driven style. Bart De Win adds warmth with his keyboards, Eric Devries enhances the emotional weight of the songs with his harmony vocals, and Sjoerd Van Bommel provides light drum rhythms that give momentum to several tracks. Matthews’ frequent collaborator BJ Baartmans plays electric, acoustic, and pedal steel guitars while also sharing production duties. Together, they create a rich, textured blend of electric and acoustic elements that add depth without overpowering the album’s delicate feel.

Iain MatthewsThe minimalist production allows Matthews’ lyrics and adaptable, melodic voice to take centre stage. Across the thirteen tracks, Matthews poses questions, offers meditations, and gives advice on how to find satisfaction in the modern world, both on a personal and universal level.

The album opens with Ripples in a Stream, which grapples with the search for contentment and fulfilment, using the metaphor of ripples to examine the lasting impact of actions and choices. Nature metaphors continue in the folky, call-and-response style of The Bird and the Fish, where two individuals desire to connect but are fundamentally incompatible. In contrast, Where Is the Love takes a broader view, lamenting the lack of empathy and compassion in society, set to a marching rhythm that amplifies its urgency.

She’s a Digital Girl critiques the sense of detachment that comes with living in a virtual world. Delivered in a lighter, jazzier style with gentle drums and guitar lines, the song feels like advice, possibly directly to a daughter, and certainly to us all, about navigating the digital landscape.

The next trio of tracks shares a contemplative mood, reflecting on life’s deeper questions. Good Intentions examines the emotional challenges of relationships, particularly when outcomes don’t align with our hopes. The title track, How Much Is Enough, takes a contemplative tone, asking the titular question in a world of material and emotional excess. The song builds around gentle acoustic guitar and Matthews’ hushed vocals, blending folk sensibilities reminiscent of his work with Matthews Southern Comfort. The final track of this trio, I Walk, uses walking as a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery, with the forward momentum of the drums reinforcing this theme.

Several tracks take a more socially aware and historical focus, both looking back and forward. The New Dark Ages expresses concern about the confusion and direction society is heading in, while Rhythm and Blues looks back at the 50s and 60s, blending nostalgia for American music of that time with social commentary by referencing Martin Luther King, Cassius Clay, and Stevie Wonder.

This referencing of American history continues with Santa Fe Line, a tribute to the railroad worker Smokestack Jack, which ties a generational family story to a broader American historical narrative. Tired of the Lies provides an up-to-date, pointed critique of deception in the political and media landscape.

Returning to personal relationships, It’s Complicated and Turn and Run reflect on how simplicity in relationships can give way to complexity or personal fear. The album closes with the intimate and personal To Baby, offering support amidst the challenges of navigating a world laid out in the preceding twelve songs. The music is built around a gentle acoustic guitar and hushed vocals, providing a fitting conclusion.

Themes of introspection, resilience, and societal critique run throughout the lyrics of this album, delivered clearly by Matthew’s adaptable vocals. The arrangements never overwhelm the vocals or lyrics, giving it a “living room concert” vibe that draws listeners in and makes the personal themes resonate more strongly. How Much Is Enough doesn’t make grand statements or offer judgements, but instead invites listeners to ponder life’s uncertainties and meaning at both personal and societal levels. Subtitled Volume One, it suggests that Iain Matthews and his collaborators will be exploring these themes more, and I look forward to hearing where these explorations take them.

John Bradbury

Iain Matthews – How Much Is Enough will be released Friday, October 25th. Click here for more Iain Matthews

 

John Bradbury
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