Post-War Out Now
11 September 06
M Ward's latest album - Post-War - is released this week.
It's a completely assured and instantly appealing record, an album that pulls you into its richly-atmospheric whirlpool of melodies with almost hypnotic ease.
In making Post-War, Matt was able, at last, to collaborate in the studio with the musicians that he's been touring with for the past 18 months - something of a breakthrough for a man over-used to crafting his records in solitude; as a result it is, he says - with a hint of pride - his "first band record". The two dueling percussionists (Rachel Blumberg and Jordan Hudson) give the album a robust heartbeat, and the arrangements throughout are as fully-realised and organically-intertwined as a fine, mature garden. This was was also the first time that Matt had worked directly with producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Cursive, The Faint); for much of Post-War he was on duty at the mixing desk. The album also features the gorgeous work of string player Amanda Lawrence.
Special mention should be made of Matt's cover of Daniel Johnston's "To Go Home". Matt contributed a version of "Story Of An Artist" to The Late Great Daniel Johnston tribute album a few years back; the song has since become a live favorite. Here, Matt takes "To Go Home" and turns it into a rollicking and utterly infectious honky-tonk stomp.
Elsewhere, Post-War is deliciously poised between joy and regret; "Magic Trick" and "Requiem" both manage to turn farewells into rueful, rambunctious celebrations, while "Today’s Undertaking" is an aching lament which builds from nothing into a swelling, showstopping finale. The title track is a wistful, spacious and perfectly nuanced gaze into the past, while the opening "Poison Cup" combines devastatingly romantic strings and devastatingly romantic lyrics to devastatingly romantic effect.
Post War has been hailed as a masterpiece by critics in the UK :
"his most striking album yet ... with shades of sorrow and despair ultimately outshone by by the optimistic sparkle in his songwriting"
The Guardian ****
"the album's full-blooded embrace of life rings out with loud and clear conviction"
The Independent *****
"just what's needed to take this extraordinary artist's work to a wider audience ... Ward remains one of only a few artists who can do what he pleases and still come up with the goods"
Independent On Sunday ****
"it's a rich, bright-sounding record, albeit etched with Ward's lyrical ruefulness and voice of crumbling, lugubrious regret - the songs come in various shades of arcane"
Mojo ****
"Ward creates something surprisingly fresh from his nostalgic vision. A boozy, bluesy gem of an album"
The Telegraph ****
"This outstanding collection ought to elevate Ward to star status"
The Times
"Post-War addresses a world in flux, by turns nostalgic and bitter, Ward's sweet, carefree voice at odds with the urgency of the music"
Uncut ****
"Home produced. Full of flavour. M Ward - so good, you could eat him"
Word
