The Legal Matters - Lost At Sea

 

Having reviewed the new Nick Piunti album at the start of the month, I now turn to compatriots as I Don't Hear A Single opened its doors. I named these people, the Michigan Music Mafia. Both Donny Brown and  Andy Reed featured on the the current Piunti album and are here now. 

Andy Reed, Chris Richards and Keith Klingensmith are The Legal Matters and were part of that Michigan gang. Formed from excellent previous bands, this is now the band's fourth album and it has been a long  5 year wait. Now on the Big Stir Records label which has also felt like it should be their home.

Lost At Sea lands somewhere between 70s Pop Rock and Power Pop. Beautifully performed and arranged, they aren't afraid of stepping out of their space, but are most at home with melody. The songs are big productions without ever being Kitchen sink.

It Doesn't Matter is an incredible song that builds and builds with an exploding chorus. The dynamism of that song is very different to the Badfinger vibes of Let Me Explain with its orchestral build and the piano part that comes from nowhere. It is another stunning arrangement.

Compare those two songs to the jaunty California Pop of Stuck With Me and the gentle Psych Pop backing to the Beach Boys like harmony on The Exit Signs and you realise how much variety is on display and how much work has gone into the album.

Marching On gets all Simon And Garfunkel at the beginning and also hints at Psych Pop instrumentally before becoming harmonic joy. The Message is Power Pop Gold. Lost At Sea shows that you don't have to blow the bloody doors off to engage completely. Another storming addition to the great Legal Matters canon.  

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download.

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