The Brigadier: Press/Reviews

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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http://www.myspace.com/brigadiermusic - ridiculously gorgeous and unerringly infectious, the Brigadier is the alter ego of Welsh musician Matt Williams who these days calls home Brighton. Apparently the proud parent of one acclaimed self released full length to date in the shape of ‘view from the bath’ with another tentatively pencilled shortly for Spring release under the working title ‘the rise and fall of responsibility’. Even before you’ve heard a single note played a quick check of Mr Williams’ extensive list of influences gives you fair indication that this may well be something enticingly special - names such as Bacharach, Big Star, Gene Clark, Andrew Gold, Todd Rundgren, Dave Edmunds, Raspberries, Bee Gees and the Korgis give a fair indication of the promised pop rushes to come. And come they do. ‘Some sort of magic’ is ridiculously infectious - silken melodies wrapped in denim and smelling of hi-karate, audaciously affectionate hooks and pristinely wrapped sugar tipped harmonies al hallowed and framed by harpsichordian swirls and bathed in unfeasibly cute bristling baroque braids while the unapologetically retro candy coated ‘this is why’ appears to have been defrosted from some weird state of suspended animation having happily lived in ignorance of the last thirty years of pop and still tripping to a heartbeat and mindset so indelibly link to a more innocent early 70’s age. ‘regents park’ is so wrong its right, picking the bones from the melodic astute uttered by the likes of early career Ashley Parks and current loves Muller and Patton - a kooky lightly crisp beauty replete with willowy plaids, bird noises and that sense of undisputed feel good loveliness that comes when the hot summers sun bathes warmly through an early morning bedroom window then again there’s more than a whiff of Cliff Richard era ‘Summer Holiday’ about its persona which be honest is no bad thing. Those of you who heeded our recommendations about Epicycle will positively swoon to the immeasurable classically crafted pop coyness of ‘the language of love’ - think Lloyd Cole, Mickie Most and Van Dyke Parks invited on a studio blind date and detailed to belt out a lavish and lush saccharine sprinkled radio arresting pop gem aided by a remit to procure the essence of 50’s bubblegum pop, mid 70’s summers and a glancing marinating of glam and pub rock formulas. Best of the set though by far the lilting ‘Berkeley Square’ - a heart stoppingly majestic nugget that appears to take its initial cue from Godley and Crème’s ‘under your thumb’, succulently saturated by porcelain electronic swathes and festooned deliciously by spectral keys and threaded with subtle 60’s sourced west coast motifs that once heard stick like limpet mines inside your headspace. What we’d like to know is a) how does he do it and b) how does he get away with it? Stunning.

Matt Williams is The Brigadier and his 13-track CD, "View From the Bath", launches into the opening track "Tell Me What You Want" like a candy pop Archies Rick Springfield throwback 70's pill of fun with vocals that land between the Small Faces and the Dead. The entire CD was written and performed by Williams who does an admirable job on all instruments, but the real talent here is in the whimsical depth that exists. Track 2, "Regents Park", is a treat, and underneath the sugary surface is a deep thoughtful lyric that exhibits a McCartney-ish maturity, 'i'd like to rescue you for dinner, and if it isn't dark, how bout a walk in Regents Park'. Track 5, "Oh, But I Do", is an Itchigoo Park bubble gum gem as well that opens with marimba? Williams writes to the heart-broken girl, 'take it in stride, or run and hide, i don't hear you, cause you say the same things again and again, why did he have to go, you gotta face it baby he doesn't love you..but i do'. Track 7, title track "View from the Bath", is a whimsical instrumental lasting all of 30 seconds of distorted calliope. The final track, "You've Got to Be", leaves the listener with the same energetic pop love as it opened with. Williams' tune is a dedication to, of course, a girl, 'when i first me you i was dreamin', then i saw you in my house, you were a cat and i was the rat, you've got to be the most beautiful girl in the world, you've got to be the one, i wanted you to be my lady, and i have to be your boy'. All tolled, the album is a light pop journey that fuses the best of an era's pop sense, including English Hermits inspirations. We look forward to more in general, The Brigadier version.

UK import and a very exciting debut that, at times, reminds us of Van Duren and The Scruffs(check out "Tell Me What You Want"). The Brigadier, one Matt Williams, says he's never heard of these bands and, naturally coming from the UK, that would be the case and, indeed, Williams influences are grounded mainly in his homeland. We hear strains of The Lilac Time/Stephen Duffy, The Zombies, The High Llamas, The Divine Comedy and The Kinks are here. There's lots and lots of 60s Brian Wilson here as the 60s vibe is strong, hard-to-miss and uniquely re-interpreted for 2007 here. There's some sleepy sunshine pop angles woven into the proceedings, too. In fact, here's a misnomer: this is a gripping, exciting sleepy delight! Hey, The Brigadier even got a quote from Wondermints! 'Wonderful sound. . .contagious songs'. Nice.

WOW!!! Influenced by the cream of pop and rock music from the rock and roll era through to the present day, The Brigadier (Matt Williams) writes very British, melodic pop songs with heart, melting chord changes, catchy choruses and sings in a charming, hushed vocal style that recalls some of the greats! Creation/Poptones boss Alan McGee was suitably impressed to offer Matt a gig at his Death Disco night in London. His influences include the great perfect pop-rock records of all time, they include records by - Queen, Nick Lowe, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Dion, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Sparks, The Bee Gees, T-Rex, Pink Floyd, The Who, Big Star, The Raspberries, and many more! Not bad, eh? And that's not even the half of it! This disc is brimming with songs and styles that reads like a modern take on the "Rubble" series of great 60's British psych-pop! Lots of hooks and harmonies are the order of the day here! Strains of Colin Blunstone, 10CC, Queen, The Yellow Balloon, The Zombies, The Left Banke, Martin Newell, and Donovan also come to mind throughout! "He writes cool, catchy songs with his own distinctive style of totally original intelligent pop music that simply oozes hip, and is one of those rare animals - genuine and original melodies and lyrics, but with a very distinct 60's early pop feel - and it makes you feel great!" - PopWorldPromotes.com Can't say enough about this great find! A real grower and an absolute fun listen! GREAT!!!!!

The Brigadier has been busier than Lily Allen building an on-line army of fans, and here comes the full assault - debut album View From The Bath is half an hour of songwriting at its very finest. Davies, Wilson and McCartney spring to mind, but it's in the more subtle moments that the Brigadier comes into his own, with a distinctly modern view of British city life. Buy this now; cult status or major label stardom beckon, but it starts here, in the bath.

THE BRIGADIER - By Tom Watford

It can’t be easy being the Brigadier. A head full of radio on constant rotation, 24-7, which just won’t switch off: Insomnia: Turning the pillow for the seventeenth time *please just a little sleep* and quitting in despair at five thirty, and now it’s light again. Back to work. Can’t concentrate. So tired. Can’t turn off the radio music music music a snippet of a vocal a fleeting glimmer of a guitar line a drum part looped over and over and over and over. Music we never heard before got to get it on tape quick write down that lyric I like that wordplay

I’ve seen the way the Brigadier seems to have this infliction and you might be speaking to him and then the eyes go up to the left, a distant thought in the recesses of a part of the brain where others can’t begin to reach or tap into. He’s felt the slightest tweak on the line; a fish, reel it in – the way you said that last sentence, it’s slowly turning into a melody or a rhythm and a minute, day, week later it’s a song. And it’s all there; verse, bridge, chorus, a big fucking shark of a song. How did you do that man? Oh, I don’t know, it just came, you know, I worked on it a bit, and there it is. Do you like it?

I like it. 3 minutes short, crafted, fleshed out, laboured, effortless. Every second drenched with some kind of reference to last 50 years of pop. Not in a blatant rip-off way; more like the Brigadier has been endlessly sourcing the secret ingredients of the finest songs rather than stealing the whole dish with one greedy swipe. “Nobody’s taught me how to produce an album. Or arrange a record. But I want to draw everything I can from a song. You have the initial idea, and then you put the work in and get out as much as you can.” Obsession doesn’t easily acknowledge laziness. “I think you have to be slightly obsessed with music to write music.” Are you obsessed with music? “I’m not sure.”

There’s plenty of evidence in the Brigadier’s home studio that suggests if pop music isn’t an obsession then it’s certainly more than just a healthy hobby. Stacks of equipment, old and new. An applemac/a pc/a vintage Copycat/a handmade telecaster built by his father before I was born. Records and records and records which have be arranged in some kind of library so allowing the Brigadier to find an album in moments but which has no obvious order to the outsider. Here’s an old tape.

“Ah, Burning Ice. My first band. Me and a friend at school started this band. We couldn’t play anything of course, but that didn’t stop us. There were other members too. Fictional ones, who would play everything for us. I kept all our albums written in a folder – all 40 minutes long, ten tracks four minutes long.” Years later, having taught himself how to play as good as the unreal members of the band, The Brigadier would write the songs for real. THE actual songs. “Yeah, a lot of them became songs I have now. Not all of them. Some of them will stay in the folder.”

I never get to see the folder, although I secretly rummage for it when The Brigadier is making us a cup of tea. But I do find 300 cds stashed behind an amp, each original track carefully labelled with Title, Mix, Date. The guy is obviously proficient. Obsessed? Yes, but you have to be, slightly.

Debut album “View From The Bath” was released in Spring 2007. As with all classy debuts, one can at once sense a purpose, a battle-plan that the Brigadier has carefully drawn up and executed with an eye to detail and a loving touch. 45 minutes long, it’s a reflective, absorbing work which retains a real home made quaintness. Individually, the most obvious influences on the tracks here are the genius of Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney, with shades of Nick Lowe and Lindsey Buckingham. But the vision of the LP as a whole looks to other sources for inspiration. “I was always impressed by records that took you on a journey, that would take you somewhere, a place, or a feeling, and bring you back again. I think of Lou Reed’s Berlin when I think of that. Saint Etienne are a band that I come back to. Tiger Bay is one that springs to mind, and I wanted to make something like that, an overall piece, a mood.”

What also becomes obvious after talking to the Brigadier is that there is more where “View From The Bath” came from…and we could end up with a bundle of records like this in five years time, which would a very exciting place to be. I can certainly imagine wandering over to the player and picking up a record, and then sinking into a chair find myself slowly drifting into the Brigadier’s most enchanting world.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR THE BRIGADIER TOOK PART IN E4'S "POPWORLD PROMOTES" - THIS IS A BIT OF WHAT THEY SAID:

"I am TOTALLY in love with this guy! Lovely voice and a brilliant sound in all his songs.He is GREAT!xxx" -"The album is fantastic! This guy will go far" - "He is excellent his music just lifts your mood and puts a smile on your face:-) he will go far" - "To infinity and beyond...X X" - "You are brilliant Matt!Fantastic songs!Wish you all the best!" - "Greetings from Canada, great lyrics, great melodies, sounds like you're on your way to the top." - "I can't stop listening to The Brigadier's album... It's great! Worth every vote!" - "I am totally in love!!!This is magic:)Best wishes..xxx" - "The Brigadier is one of those rare animals - genuine and original melodies and lyrics, but with a distinct 60's early pop feel - and it makes you feel great! Love his music to bits, and I'm sure he will go far!" - "Great sound and voice!" - "Great! .. fantastic song ! .." - "The Brigadier writes cool, catchy songs with his own distinctive style of totally original intelligent pop music that simply oozes hip - proven by his popular MySpace page which is really buzzing with fans, of which I am one of them!" - "The boy has talent. Love the songs... from New Orleans" - "The album is fantastic! This guy will go far" - "Rated 10. For sure. Excellent stuff" -
"sumptious darling. do the vocals sound a bit "Rent-a-Ghost"..or is it just me? LOVE IT x" - "Love all the Tracks! You are going to be big x" - "He's great! Sign 'im!" - "Brighton's best. ;-)" - "i like this very much" - "A breath of fresh air in the Pop world. Looking forward to seeing him signed! Just listen to those melodies and harmonies" - "Saw the Brigadier at Death Disco in Notting Hill - great gig, loved the music!" - "i would like to say just two things,an amazing voice and wonderful songs" - "He should be signed" - "Wow, really great music..." - "great song! he should be signed!!" - "with the brigadier.....once you pop you can't stop... ciao ciao" - "Great gig in Notting Hill, Come back soon!" - "I FOUND HIM ON THE WEB...IT'S GREAT MUSIC...REALLY...I HOPE TO SEE HIM TOP THE LIST" - "Had a great set at Death Disco, well recomended" - "Fantastic music. . . the world needs to hear it. . . he must be signed. . . fast!!" - "Fab Fab KEEP DOIN IT" - "it's beautiful" - "Matt,The Brigadier sound awesome! Matt you have my full support! U sound super psychedelic! Un bacio grande, ur lil' swedish fan;)"