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MATT
MALLEY |
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The
bass player for the group Counting Crows between 1990 and 2004, Matt
Malley released a noteworthy solo album of his own in 2009. Entitled
The Goddess Within, the ten track CD stretches across a wide
range of rock and pop styles. Maybe it has something to do with that
exotic CD cover art, but over in the U.K. Rob Aylings Voiceprint
label was touting Matt as the second coming of George Harrison. Sure,
Malley is a big fan of Indian music, having studied Indian slide guitar
with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. But much of this album is closer to Harrison-esque
pop than Ravis sitar. For rock fans who remember his years with
Counting Crows, Malley is something of a legend and, with a bunch
of newly penned tunes, he doesnt disappoint on The Goddess
Within. Come to think of it, the sound is almost Beatles inspired
in places. Into The Silence sounds a little late period
George inspired. Commenting on the song Malley adds, Into the
Silence is a song which I wrote about meditation. I was thinking
one day about how all things lead to silence - like rivers leading
to an ocean so I wrote that song! The the next track, Hanging
On A Star sounds like McCartney solo in the studio circa the
white album but was actually written by the late great folk rock hero
Nick Drake. Commenting Malley adds, Hanging On A Star
is one of two cover songs which I do and it was written by the late
Nick Drake. I'm a fanatic of all things English Folk so I got permission
to do a Nick Drake song for my record!
I love the unique, longing quality to that song and I recorded it
in a way that sounds a little like Mr. Drake. It all gets back
to that deep and hermetic picture on the cover doesnt it? Is
that really her, the goddess within? There are instructions within
the CD booklet on how to use the cover for a transcending kundalini
experience! Interestingly as a follow up, as of late in 2009, Malley
is currently recording with keyboard great Pat Moraz, to which he
adds, I actually saw Patrick Moraz and Bill Bruford in their
"Music For Piano And Drums" tour back in '85 or so in San
Francisco. Now we're becoming good friends and we're actually recording
a record together these last couple of weeks in my home studio. He
really likes the way I play bass so he brought a drummer along named
Jacob Armen - a child prodigy and he's 28 now. As if this wasnt
enough Malley is also currently playing bass with pop hero Emitt Rhodes.
Commenting on working with this one time pop innovator who was actually
considered by some pop enthusiasts as the new Paul McCartney back
in 1970, Malley adds, Yes Emitt Rhodes. We've got 3 songs recorded
and I'm actually appearing in a brand new Italian documentary on Emitt.
Check out the you tube preview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLL8CsVeOiE
Emitt is still a genius and his new songs are just as good as the
ones he wrote in the 60's and 70's. I'm playing bass with him so I'm
like a fish in the water there! In the spirit of pioneering
pop prodigy Emitt Rhodes on his famous self-titled album from 1970,
Matt Malley also plays all the instruments and vocals on The Goddess
Within, and in doing so situates himself as a well rounded pop
spirit for 2010 and beyond.
www.MattMalley.com
I started
playing guitar just before high school. My friend Mike Detwiler acquired
a bass and guitar from Sears when his father purchased them and we
both started playing Creedence Clearwater Revival songs on them and
we were instantly hooked!
My
new CD, titled The Goddess Within is my first solo record and
I played and sang everything on it. I recorded it in my home studio.
I was learning to record as I went along so I went back and re-recorded
some things as I was finishing up. I wanted it to sound like Neil
Young...if he were to sing with Yes and that's my style of guitar
playing so I was happy with the results. My two
favorite electric's that I own are a Fender Strat Custom Shop and
a Jimmy Page Les Paul. The Strat has a maple body with burgundy stain,
'57 "C" style neck and high tech electronics and sealed
machine heads, and the Les Paul is the greatest Les Paul I've ever
heard. Has that Gibson growl and is beautiful to look at! They're
both on my album. I have a Santa Cruz OM model acoustic which I love
and used on the record as well.
Musical
influences include all things British Isle folk including Martin Carthy,
Bert Jansch, John Renborn, Nick Drake, John Martyn and Davy Graham.
Also Richard Thompson and Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Steeleye
Span. Fairport Convention made a record called What We Did On Our
Holidays and that's the record that made me a fanatic of folk
rock. I'm also a fanatic of U2 because of their sound, Peter Gabriel,
Yes, Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin. Trevor's tone changed my life with
Yes' 90125 record back in the early '80's.
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