Matt Steady – Cairn
Fully independent, Leicester based multi-instrumentalist Matt Steady gave himself a hard act to follow having pulled out all the nuCeltic prog stops for double album Flight of the Raven in 2024.
The most ambitious work to date from the multi-faceted musician (Celtic, prog, blues and folk are all part of the Matt Steady musical fabric), FotR was as 'elemental' in design (four musical Scrolls based on Fire, Air, Earth & Water) as it was future-hypothetical (what if Celtic life and lore dominated in the 21st century, and beyond, to the stars).
But follow it he has, with the more concise but equally vivid Cairn, which firmly plants itself in the soil and bedrock of Scotland across eight tracks influenced by some of the most picturesque or famous areas of auld Alba.
Given the inspiration and influences behind Cairn there are similarities to FotR in Celtic tone and instrumentation texture, but, frankly, that's no bad thing and, indeed, welcomed.
Like FotR, Cairn also has an accompanying video for each track, filmed at each location.
Additionally, the Cairn videos can be viewed on YouTube or purchased as a DVD, Blu-ray or 4k download, complete with travel documentaries.
Opener 'Ben A’an,' a beautifully plaintive guitar piece (think Dave Gilmour playing a Celtic lament) echoes over not just the famous "mountain in miniature" but a subtle synth pad backing.
That the track is also dedicated Matt Steady’s mother, who sadly passed earlier this year, makes this number all the more poignant.
The more progressive 'Rowardennan' (a hamlet on Loch Lomond’s eastern shore) is a more complex piece that manages to mix evocative guitar melody lines with a short, violin jig sequence and jazz-tinged fusion sections. The track, and all others following, feature drums and percussion from Terl Bryant.
Guitar, low whistle and violin all play their evocative part on 'Milarrochy Bay.'
A downtempo, lamenting piece with Floyd-esque overtones, there’s also a subtle hint of Steve Vai (in "7th song" mode) in parts of Matt Steady’s inspired melodic solo sections.
The most ambitious work to date from the multi-faceted musician (Celtic, prog, blues and folk are all part of the Matt Steady musical fabric), FotR was as 'elemental' in design (four musical Scrolls based on Fire, Air, Earth & Water) as it was future-hypothetical (what if Celtic life and lore dominated in the 21st century, and beyond, to the stars).
But follow it he has, with the more concise but equally vivid Cairn, which firmly plants itself in the soil and bedrock of Scotland across eight tracks influenced by some of the most picturesque or famous areas of auld Alba.
Given the inspiration and influences behind Cairn there are similarities to FotR in Celtic tone and instrumentation texture, but, frankly, that's no bad thing and, indeed, welcomed.
Like FotR, Cairn also has an accompanying video for each track, filmed at each location.
Additionally, the Cairn videos can be viewed on YouTube or purchased as a DVD, Blu-ray or 4k download, complete with travel documentaries.
Opener 'Ben A’an,' a beautifully plaintive guitar piece (think Dave Gilmour playing a Celtic lament) echoes over not just the famous "mountain in miniature" but a subtle synth pad backing.
That the track is also dedicated Matt Steady’s mother, who sadly passed earlier this year, makes this number all the more poignant.
The more progressive 'Rowardennan' (a hamlet on Loch Lomond’s eastern shore) is a more complex piece that manages to mix evocative guitar melody lines with a short, violin jig sequence and jazz-tinged fusion sections. The track, and all others following, feature drums and percussion from Terl Bryant.
Guitar, low whistle and violin all play their evocative part on 'Milarrochy Bay.'
A downtempo, lamenting piece with Floyd-esque overtones, there’s also a subtle hint of Steve Vai (in "7th song" mode) in parts of Matt Steady’s inspired melodic solo sections.
The near seven minute 'Bracklinn Falls' allows Matt Steady to get his Celtic prog on.
Flitting between folk-lament vocal parts and fuller bodied, tempo-shifting, guitar-led progressive sections, this piece ripples, crashes and cascades like the series of waterfalls it’s named after.
Vocal number 'Lochan na Lairige' features Sally Minnear on backing vocals and some nice, bluesy Hammond from Steve Fletcher. Folk-blues in nature, the song features a shape-shifting instrumental section, with guitar again to the fore.
There’s a discernible, bluesy tone permeating through 'Fionn’s Rock,' which features more great guitar playing from Matt Steady (both in the melodies created and technique).
The track's groove is laid down by Terl Bryant and bassist Marty Dieckmeyer, while Robert Watson is on hand to add organ keys to the track titled after the "Praying Hands" of Glen Lyon’s famous split rock formation.
The six-minute 'Rannoch Moor' rhythmically sways like the winds and breezes that flit across the largest area of blanket bog in Britain before kicking in to a Celtic-rock section that allows Matt Steady to flex his six-string muscles. A guitar & whistle melody line then takes lead before bowing out to a more traditional violin jig, which itself shifts to a Celtic-folk conclusion.
The best is left to last with the stirring, seven minute prog-march of 'Kilchurn Castle,' which features not just gravel-husky and resilient vocal parts from Matt Steady ("bright eyes, shining in the night, under stars that never fade..."), but a riff-driven rock-metal section that is, frankly, only missing a wild cry of "Freedom!"
Given the quality and striking scenery of the accompanying music videos it could construed that Cairn is a soundtrack to the filmed locations that inspired, and were visited by, Matt Steady.
That’s a fair cinematic point (and you’ll get no argument from this proud Scot), but Cairn also stands strong as a statement to the compositional and instrumentation talents of Matt Steady.
Well played, laddie. In both senses of the word.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Cairn (CD/ Vinyl/ Digital), the Cairn Videos and previous Matt Steady releases at:
https://mattsteady.bandcamp.com/album/cairn
Website: https://mattsteady.com/
Flitting between folk-lament vocal parts and fuller bodied, tempo-shifting, guitar-led progressive sections, this piece ripples, crashes and cascades like the series of waterfalls it’s named after.
Vocal number 'Lochan na Lairige' features Sally Minnear on backing vocals and some nice, bluesy Hammond from Steve Fletcher. Folk-blues in nature, the song features a shape-shifting instrumental section, with guitar again to the fore.
There’s a discernible, bluesy tone permeating through 'Fionn’s Rock,' which features more great guitar playing from Matt Steady (both in the melodies created and technique).
The track's groove is laid down by Terl Bryant and bassist Marty Dieckmeyer, while Robert Watson is on hand to add organ keys to the track titled after the "Praying Hands" of Glen Lyon’s famous split rock formation.
The six-minute 'Rannoch Moor' rhythmically sways like the winds and breezes that flit across the largest area of blanket bog in Britain before kicking in to a Celtic-rock section that allows Matt Steady to flex his six-string muscles. A guitar & whistle melody line then takes lead before bowing out to a more traditional violin jig, which itself shifts to a Celtic-folk conclusion.
The best is left to last with the stirring, seven minute prog-march of 'Kilchurn Castle,' which features not just gravel-husky and resilient vocal parts from Matt Steady ("bright eyes, shining in the night, under stars that never fade..."), but a riff-driven rock-metal section that is, frankly, only missing a wild cry of "Freedom!"
Given the quality and striking scenery of the accompanying music videos it could construed that Cairn is a soundtrack to the filmed locations that inspired, and were visited by, Matt Steady.
That’s a fair cinematic point (and you’ll get no argument from this proud Scot), but Cairn also stands strong as a statement to the compositional and instrumentation talents of Matt Steady.
Well played, laddie. In both senses of the word.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase Cairn (CD/ Vinyl/ Digital), the Cairn Videos and previous Matt Steady releases at:
https://mattsteady.bandcamp.com/album/cairn
Website: https://mattsteady.com/