From seemingly out of nowhere comes
Matthew De Gennaro, introduced through this solo release on Last Visible Dog.
Humbled Down is all about quiet folk guitar. Some gentle field recordings, droning violin, and fragile melodica occasionally make guest appearances, but throughout the nine tunes included here, the acoustic guitar remains the sole focal point.
De Gennaro clearly comes from the pastoral neo-folk current that has built a bridge between the American countryside and Scandinavian woods in the 2000s. But while several artists in that vein churn up repetitive, mantra-like pieces that are deconstructed to the bone,
De Gennaro offers melodious tunes played with very good musicianship. If you don't pay attention to the background textures, at times
Humbled Down feels like vintage instrumental guitar music (think
Gordon Giltrap,
Anthony Phillips, or
Richard Leo Johnson). The harmonium and the overall arrangements in "Leith Valley Blues" bring Frank Pahl to mind, an unexpected reference for sure. This release is a bit surprising coming from Last Visible Dog, since it doesn't quite embrace the lo-fi, experimental aesthetics of the label, but it shouldn't be overlooked. The music is humble all right, but it is also delightfully crafty. ~ François Couture