Gaz Coombes - Matador

Five years after severing the umbilical cord of constraint from operating within a band Gaz Coombes is back, fully formed and matured as a solo artist. In 2012, after six Supergrass albums came 'Here Come The Bombs', a chance to stretch and flex a little.  Now, two years later, he is back,  fully grown into his new skin, and filling the sonic viscera with 'Matador', songs of reflection, retrospection and hope. It is a chiselled, almost Bowie-esque, visage that stares upwards in revelation from the cover. This is indeed a second coming. Whilst 'Bombs' may have rewarded the loyal fans who indulged repeat plays to excavate the buried gems, listening to 'Matador' is an immediate, rewarding, contemporary experience. Treasure awaits, even for those too young to remember the heady days of Britpop. Swirling synths and Mellotron augment, rather than swamp, the vocals. There are still glimmers of Supergrass in songs like 20/20, before cutting loose in 'The English Ruse'. 'The Girl Who Fell to Earth' melts beautifully before exposing the pain and darkness of 'Detroit'. Drums and backing vocals reinforce, but never smother, for example during 'Needles Eye'. Dreamy reflection takes 'Seven Walls' seamlessly through to 'Oscillate' before see-sawing back to grief in 'To the Wire'. Gorgeous, masterful, confessional, and uplifting.