the brigadier: press

Recently I had the chance to listen to “The Rise and Fall of Responsibility”, the second complete music work by the London based Matt Williams , aka The Brigadier. With melodies as “The Melancholy Days” and “This is why” it’s easy to say that “The Rise and Fall of Responsibility” is a bitter joyful journey in the brightest side of the history of music at its best. Guitars, keyboards, drums, fine melodyes and tender clever lyrics complete a totally grown work. The Brigadiers surely know how to move in the construction of an album, and “The Rise and Fall” seems like the tenth release from an old friend with full self confindence on his skills and potentials.


Not only the brightest side of the game. “The Rise and Fall” explore all the range of emotions, diggin out darker moments in songs like the Lennonesque “Envy”, with echoes of Stereolab, Todd Rundgren and Devics. Did I mentioned that the guy is really good in choirs? Then DO listen to “Growing up is Hard to do Part 1″. Brian Wilson meets Elastica!

This boy recorded a masterpiece all alone in a room in Brighton. Would you bet on him? Who knows. Maybe Louis Philippe began his carreer in the same way.

The Brigadier is the UK's Matt Williams (not to be confused with the follicly-challenged former American baseball player) and his followup to last year's View From The Bath is a major step forward. This is a perfect album for those who enjoyed Andy Partridge's more Brian Wilson/Beach Boys-influenced excursions with XTC, and the opener "Growing Up Is Hard to Do (Part 1)" is a great example of this sound. Other standouts include the baroque pop of "The Language of Love", the 70s stylings of the languid "We Soiree", and the bouncy "This Is Why...", which seems to have borrowed its backing track from a combo of the 1975 Maxine Nightengale hit "Right Back Where We Started From" and Elton John's "I'm Still Standing". An excellent tour of pop styles with a unique British sensibility.

‘If you get through school you might land a job in a corporate conglomeration
Or if you want a couple years dossing as a slob you could try further education
…
One day you’re playing with computer games the next you’re browsing in a garden centre
Do you watch your youth going up in flames or do you say “No surrender”?’
(Growing up is hard to do – Part 1)

‘Love never asked my permission to stay,
It came with its baggage and moved in one day.
It took advantage of my friendly ways,
Closed all the curtains and made my life grey.’
(When will I be with you?)

Sophisticated, witty, very very clever – the lyrics are among the more unusual I’ve heard in a long time. (My apologies if I’ve transcribed them with errors.) They’re not a million miles away from the style of the likes of The Magnetic Fields and right up there in standard.

Matt Williams, aka The Brigadier, is basically a one-man-band – musician/producer/singer/songwriter – hailing from Wales originally. There are few truly original artists out there and those that are should be treasured. This is one of them in my view. Albeit The Brigadier (I do like the formality of the title) is drawing from wide and varied sources, his own stamp is well and truly all over this totally addictive work. It’s just glorious.

What can I say? I love this album. It’s odd, feel-good, has hints (only hints, mind you) of burlesque, Julian Lennon ( know, I know, but work with me here), The Feeling…but none of it is overwhelming. He’s pretty damn unique in my hearing. Oh hell, sod that, just go buy it and go for a drive. In the sun.

Matt Williams is the multi-talented mastermind behind The Brigadier, and his new 2008 release, "The Rise & Fall of Responsibility" will have fans of 70s pop jumping out of their orange and yellow sofas for joy. This is one of the most genuinely retro-sounding CDs I've heard in a long time; Matt is a man who knows how to pay tribute to his influences, which include everything from Abba to the Zombies.

The Brigadier specializes in buoyant 70s-style pop, with vocals subtle and hushed, but that swell into a brilliant climax during the plentiful harmonies. He is not unlike Elliott Smith or Teenage Fanclub in this regard.

Things get started with the first part of the mini-concept album within these 13 otherwise independent tracks. "Growing Up Is Hard To Do" is divided into two parts, the first part being a straight ahead pop rocker with 70s flair (complete with hand claps and harpsichord). Part two near the end of the CD is more epic in scale. The haunting "Envy" also boasts astute lyrics that stand out over the gentle acoustic strumming.

While these tracks showcase the more thoughtful and introspective side, there is plenty of stuff written purely for fun. Like the best track, "This, Is Why...", a simple love song with one of the catchiest hooks on the record, sounding like a musical ghost of a Captain and Tenile hit written by Elton John. A close second is "The Box in the Back of My Mind", another upbeat highlight with shimmering guitars, hand claps, and optimistic lyrics. "Une Soiree" is an interesting track with a bouncy, carnival-like chorus that would not be out of place in an Abba song. Finally, there are a couple of tracks that sound VERY much like T. Rex, such as "The Language of Love", which dials the fuzzy guitars to 10 when they are not interspersed with some tickling of the ivories. Some tracks are more experimental, like the brief closer "Facade", which reminds me of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood during Halloween.

All things considered, "The Rise & Fall of Responsibility" is a hugely enjoyable effort from a very talented songwriter and musician. If you are a fan of diverse genres swirling around a power pop core, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out The Brigadier.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 5, 9, 11

Matt (The Brigadier) Williams is sure to garner attention this year. His latest, "The Rise and Fall..." is a highly addictive and intelligent pop album. The narrative pop style is rooted in the work of McCartney and Ray Davies, but with soft gentle vocals closer in sound to Sean O'Hagen of The High Llamas. If you enjoy a burst of pop creativity, you'll flip over the opening track "Growing Up is Hard to Do Part 1" which compares favorably to Bryan Scary. It shoots out a bouncy beat and handclaps to the lyric "One day I'm playin' with computer games... watchin' your youth go up in flames, so do you say no surrender?" This is an excellent beginning and leads to the dream-like mid tempo love song "When Will I be with You" which evokes a mix of Roger Waters and Aztec Camera with acoustic guitar strum and piano. "The Language of Love" is quirky piano number with a breathy vocal and rich chorus. The theatrical bend to the album not only compares well with Bryan Scary piano work, but also Genesis' Steve Hackett guitar arrangements. The songs flow easily from the slow heavy organ depression of "Envy" to the music hall style of "Une Soiree" -- it's mesmerizing and the entire album will demand repeat listens. The utterly amazing "This, is why..." has a catchy hook, with a 70s era style similar to early Elton John. "The Box in the back of My Mind" gets in touch with it's inner Raspberries and is my favorite track. The ending "Growing Up is Hard To Do Part 2" has a Kinks meets Beach Boys vibe. Don't miss this brilliant album, as I will now want to examine The Brigadier's past albums. It makes my top ten list too - lots of great pop this year!

"This excellent eagerly-awaited new album from The Brigadier has become something of an event in the indie music world and with the artist’s own HUGE loyal and devoted following of fans on his popular MySpace music page in particular. A follow-up to the critically-acclaimed 2007 hit “View From The Bath“, this album is right up on par with that one. And with a growing depth of maturity in his vision now, The Brigadier has never been so cool creatively with his unique take on the world. The appeal of the album, like its predecessor, lies in its unique, offbeat, highly-original intelligent pop music - cleverly crafted, super-catchy songs ranging from atmospheric moody ballads to infectious dance-floor fillers bursting with clap-happy beats and singalong choruses to shout out at any office party or club night rave. From the opening track “Growing Up Is Hard To Do Part 1” right through to the tumultuous finale of the song revisited again in “Part 2” you are in for a special treat that is just a pure joy to the ears. Sandwiched between these two brave and ambitious songs - which share the same title and theme but are completely different in style - are a rare collection of reflective stories from a master song smith writing at the top of his craft which sets the scene of the title “The Rise And Fall Of Responsibility”. The album simply oozes with sheer emotion and there are some real heartbreakingly beautiful moments with those gorgeous little gems “Hot Toddy”, “The Melancholy Days” and “Façade”. But it’s the big party stompers that have become The Brigadier’s niche, with nicely fashioned favourites full of nostalgia for the great hits of yesteryear like the throwback T-Rex sound of “This Is, Why …” to modern classics of his own with what is sure to be this year’s ‘summer of love’ anthem “The Language Of Love” and the edgy jangly guitar rocker “The Box In The Back Of My Mind” … all with The Brigadier’s trademark Beach Boys-style high harmonies and quirky lyrics full of melancholic irony that are delivered perfectly with his distinctive soft sexy melodic vocal. What’s most amazing is The Brigadier (Matt Williams) is a one man band, writing, performing and producing all the songs himself. An artist dedicated to his craft, this album really is a labour of love music lovers will cherish. “The Rise And Fall Of Responsibility” is with us at last. This is the hip HOT album to have this summer!"

Kelvin MacGregor is an award-nominated internationally published journalist. He has written for publications such as Empire, Elle and Cosmopolitan. He is the author of the film biography Kevin Costner: Prince Of Hollywood and the novel Here We Go!, published by Random House. He is also a No.1 hit singer-songwriter and MySpace Top 20 recording artist
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