Dea Matrona hit the red button and set into play a musical pallet of ever changing moods.
Release Date: 3rd May 2024
Label: Dea Matrona
Format: digital / LP / CD / cassette
Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe have come some way from busking the likes of Whole Lotta Love and Homeward Bound on the streets of Belfast. Their savvy presence on t’internet sees their following number the hundreds of thousands – that be the current method of assessing popularity – hanging onto their songs that combine grit and melody.
For Your Sins finds the duo on a mission with a completely self-made labour of love; writing, recording and producing the album themselves. From the fuzzy bass and poppy groove of Stuck On You to the stark and funk tinged Get Your Mind Off (“gotta get my mind off you“) there’s a confident and strident bravado about their ability to shape shift from smooth soul sisters to swaggering Indie rockers at the blink of an eye. Maybe a product of their career path so far.
Red Button blends a ringer for Pink Floyd’s Run Like Hell riff that crosses swords with a bluesy rock and soul vibe. Typical of the shape shifting musical beast you’ll encounter on For Your Sins. Mollie and Orlaith aren’t averse to hitting an easy RnB groove, tapping into pop or an acoustic country folk direction; the latter found in the relaxed country swing of Won’t Feel Like This Forever while in a similar vein, Glory Glory also highlights the close knit harmonies which have honed rather nicely.
The harder edged influences attributed to the likes of The White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys are right to the wire on Wilderness. The jagged riffing and lead drums roughing up some of the smooth edges, yet we’re transported right back to the rocking chair on the porch with a foot tapping and pant swinging country Dead Man’s Heart complete with slide guitar.
Several boxes ticked, many genres visited, Dea Matrona’s debut harnesses a resolute femme energy.
Here’s Stuck On You:
Dea Matrona online: Website / Facebook / X (Twitter as was) / Instagram / other
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Categories: Uncategorised
Just bought the album. I live in California. Ran across Dea Matrona on YouTube. WOW, I was VERY IMPRESSED. Talented musicians, great stage presence, thoughtful song writing. Most of all, I found their music to be dynamic and edgy, with “blues” roots that GRABBED YOUR ATTENTION.
I found the album a disappointment. For those fans (like me) who were “captured” by their YouTube videos, the CD/album reflects a soft/homogenized effort to reach a more lucrative commercial audience…I deeply regret the music edge was GONE!
I continue to enjoy their videos and turn my friends on to their sound…guess I’ll have to wait for their “live” album to enjoy their great sound and energy.
Michael…from California