Now spinning: Matthew E. White’s “Fresh Blood”

Photo above of Matthew E. White, courtesy of Spacebomb Records.

Just a few years ago, Matthew E. White was a jazz arranger/guitarist with a wealth of experience who was little known outside of his home city of Richmond, Virginia. He started Spacebomb Records, a Motown/Stax modeled label with an in-house stable of musicians. He quickly realized that the label needed recordings to attract talent to the studio, so White sat down and wrote a few songs.

Those seven songs became his 2012 debut, Big Inner, an album that turned heads and even netted White a “Best New Artist” nod from Paste Magazine. Not bad for someone sending their first seven songs out into the world.

When I first heard Big Inner, what lured me in was the sensation that I was listening to a guy who was in love with all kinds of music. These songs were love letters to what had inspired him. Big Inner was one of the most unique, confusing and intriguing albums I had heard that year.

All intrigue aside, I was in no way prepared for Fresh Blood, White’s sophomore effort released March 10.

On Fresh Blood, the playful genre pastiche of his previous release has been replaced by addictive R&B hooks, laser-sharp arrangements and generous doses of brass, strings and vocal orchestration.

While White’s steady baritone may not overwhelm, it breaks in slowly and eventually becomes part of the listener, much like your favorite pair of jeans does over time. I’ve never heard anyone transmit the things I love about soul and gospel music without having the benefit of the muscular vocals and panoramic range commonly associated with singers in those genres, which I find even more compelling.

It’s almost impossible to listen to Fresh Blood and believe that this guy could count the number of songs he has written on his hands and feet. If White’s learning curve continues on like this, I’m almost frightened to hear the next record.

Listen to “Vision” from Matthew E. White’s Fresh Blood below.

https://youtu.be/DV9f3lceD-w