Matt Dahan – Shadowboxing(Waiting For Gravity Music)
Matt Dahan is a third generation pianist in a family that’s been performing since the 1930s. Not that Dahan sounds anything but contemporary on Shadowboxing, his seventh full-length release in six years. Musically, he draws inspiration from various sources, and not solely piano players. Sure, there’s a little Ben Folds in what he does, but equally, he’s taking the darker pop vibe of The Killers and their ilk, and stamping his own identity onto the template. My favourites: the energetic “Spinning” is played with joyful abandon and the euphoric layering of “Please, Icarus” brings to mind the grown-up pop of classic Steve Winwood, and showcases Dahan’s excellent voice. “On The Edge” oozes a gentle, though slightly desperate menace. Indeed, if this were a film review it would be described as containing “mild peril”, and although Shadowboxing isn’t concerned with epic soundscapes, many of these songs wouldn’t sound out of place gracing the latest (older) teen flick. Matt Dahan may not be a household name ‘round these parts, but there’s no doubting that, given the quality of his pop instincts, he’s certainly worth further investigation.
www.myspace.com/mattdahan
Simon M.
