Matthew And The Arrogant Sea and the embrace and scribbled wisdom of "D F K"

 

"it don't matter at all, we're all just existing..."

At this time in my life I feel my diet changing. I can still digest rabid, feral, powerful rock / punk rock to pump up the psychic adrenalin in me (and the real adrenalin) but for the most part I crave thoughtful divergent music. That, not always, but usually comes from bands who have been around the block, who have well worn calloused fingers, maybe walk instead of run and had their hearts broken too many times. I don't know the collective core of Matthew And The Arrogant Sea (MATAS) from a place I have never been to, Denton - Texas, I have never spoken to them but every time their music crosses my path it feels thoughtful to me. I gleam something from their songs and I can "relate" to their words.

"DFK" is no exception. On easy sort of folk rock / indie rock sways Matthew Gray sings, "It was the dumb fuck kids who lit the match and got it going... lit up and pissed about the state of things and you can't really blame them... we would of done the same thing..." and as the song blossoms with some truly magnetic musical diversions that snap the synapses in your brain and even create a flutter in your heart, Gray conjures up feelings, resolute and aware to chew on. 

The refrain "it don't matter at all, we're only just existing" sticks to me and while there are other reflections that feel like the claustrophobic walls of life creating intense anxiety, I also feel the Zen-ness of giving your self to the flow of it all. Now, in the 13 years that I have written about music and artists (nearly everyday) I have often said that music, that songs are sonic Rorschach tests for us to imprint our feelings, our deep shit upon and I feel, see a lot of things on the inkblot-ness of "DFK". A WHOLE lot, too much to write here but within the thought of existing there is the unfathomable thought, notion, of not existing and that thought invades my being from time to time. So the take away is to appreciate, be present in every moment of living, even relish in the bad things. Really notice the warmth of your coffee cup and if you take a tumble, slip and eat it during your morning run realize that, shit, that was a good fall. Yes, this came to mind while listening to Blake Vickery embracing bass lines, Tony Whitlock's lead guitar tones, Hagen Hauschild's easy in the pocket drumming, Jesse Chandler's garden rock keys and swelling synths and Matthew Gray's acoustic engine and beautiful voice crooning his poetic words. 

Thoughtful music, hell yes. Oh, and I hate to compare one artist to another because really all artists just sound like themselves (with the exception of Greta Van Fleet) but for whatever reason, listening to Matthew And The Arrogant Sea, I flashed on an amalgam of R.E.M. and Miracle Legion. 

-Robb Donker Curtius

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

https://www.facebook.com/Matthewandthearrogantsea/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6md5awM3LGuP8VM04YqM2n

https://soundcloud.com/matthewandthearrogantsea

https://matthewandthearrogantsea.bandcamp.com/

https://www.makeamericaweirdagain.com/

Matthew And The Arrogant Sea (MATAS) are a North Texas based indie rock collective. With a rotating cast of collaborators the core unit of the group remains: Tony Whitlock (lead Guitar) Blake Vickrey (bass) Hagen Hauschild (drums) Juan Pablo Alzate (Rhythm Guitar) Matthew Gray (Words/Vocals/Acoustic) The band has been performing since the early 00’s and continues to prolifically release new collective works. Their latest effort has been a series of singles/eps entitled “A series of dreams” their latest addition “DFK” is much darker than what we’re accustomed to with MATAS. But it packs an emotional punch that will leave you begging for more.

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 Matthew And The Arrogant Sea, Indie Rock, Dream Pop, indie pop, Denton, Texas, "D F K", folk tones, thoughtful words, divergent shifts, street wisdom,