Daybreak
Matt Greenwood
Independent (mattgreenwood.bandcamp.com)
Guitarist Matt Greenwood returns with his sophomore album Daybreak, which he aptly describes as “diving deeper into guitar-driven sonic landscapes with renewed purpose.” The album is substantially more “produced” than its 2023 predecessor Atlas, and Greenwood uses studio technology to craft a lush aesthetic atop an intimate guitar-trio base.
Born in Zimbabwe, Greenwood earned his undergraduate degree in Toronto, where he was introduced to bassist Mike Downes and drummer Mark Kelso. Zimbabwean percussionist Othnell “Mangoma” Moyo guests on the tracks 1000 Paper Cranes and Guide My Hand, lending them their own unique sound without altering the album’s stylistic tone. The latter track brought to mind a phrase a jazz purist colleague used to say, along the lines of “this is what pop music would sound like in a perfect world.” That idea resurfaced several times while listening to Daybreak, as its compositions and arrangements blend elements of indie, folk, and pop while incorporating enough harmonic sophistication to engage even the most esoteric listeners.
Downes and Kelso are perfectly versatile personnel for this genre-eschewing album, adding sensitivity to rambunctious moments, and confidence to subtler ones. The ensemble’s sounds are recorded immaculately, which is a commendable feat with music this dynamic. Greenwood’s writing makes use of Downes’ consummate bow playing on several melodies, adding yet another dimension to the diversity of sounds. Daybreak should appeal to listeners across the gamut of genres, which is a recommendation in itself.
