Matthew Jay - Further Than Tomorrow
(Jays Music Ltd )
http://www.matthewjay.com

Matthew Jay was an English singer/songwriter who released one album in 1999, Draw, to critical acclaim. He embarked on a UK and European tour shortly thereafter, and in 2001 he was scheduled to play in the United States. His US tour was cancelled after the 9/11 attacks, however, and Jay went back to work on what would have been his second album. Tragically, however, on 25 September 2003, Jay, aged 24, died following a fall from a seventh story window in London. Mystery still surrounds the circumstances of his death, but his family, which had been highly involved in Jay’s musical career, has put out several compilations of Jay’s unreleased work. The latest release comes in the form of Further Than Tomorrow, a 12-track collection brimming with Jay’s youthful but haunting voice and lyrics beyond his tender age.

Opening track There Were No Complications presents a clash between content and form with a very upbeat, fast-paced melody supporting words of depression and misery. Jay’s lyrics about sadness aren’t just the usual complaint, however, as he delves deeper into human sentiment and sings about at least being at peace with his misery. Somehow, that’s relatable. In Chaos, Jay’s vocals remain frail and youthful, with even a hint of psychedelia, while transmitting a message of, as the title suggests, chaos: “like a sky full of acid rain / every drop is entertaining.”

The presence of some of Jay’s influences in his music is evident, particularly The Beatles, Queen, David Bowie and The Beach Boys. Many of the songs have a 60s psychedelic rock feel to them not too different from something out of Revolver. Jay’s voice is especially trippy and sensual in the reggae/loungy My Erica, the lyrics of which suggest the themes of an abusive relationship or drug addiction (and told from the drug’s point if view!). Black Coffee brilliantly talks of dreams and addiction during a very chill melody accentuated by some female support in the chorus.

Jay’s story is tragic not only because a vibrant young man’s life was lost unreasonably early, but also because he really had something going on. The poetry and depth in his lyrics, his playfully chilling voice and the musical eclecticism in Further Than Tomorrow signal true talent. At least his music is still here, and everyone knows that’s eternal. Fingers crossed, his family will keep finding more unreleased gems and bringing them to life.

Christina Cromeyer Dieke