Single Review: ‘Til My Whole Heart Bursts

I first came across Matt when I was asked if I could write a release for his tour, and I was fortunate enough to catch him in Auckland playing solo in the middle of last year. It was a great night, and since then I have investigated all three of his albums and am looking forward now to his NZ tour and his fourth. This song is the most recent single from that album and features him with a full band as he looks to build on the success of Break Rattle and Roll which was awarded the 2018 Music Victoria Award for Best Country/Americana Album Of The Year. This song is built on Matt’s vocals and his acoustic guitar, and I can imagine it being performed in that manner, but here the arrangement features electric guitar, steel, drums, and bass to really build on the sound.

This is modern alt-country, more upbeat and in your face than the traditional style, with a beat and swing which really encourages the body to move and the face to smile. The electric guitar has a wonderfully rich colour to it with plenty of soul, bringing a real breadth into the music which is only accentuated when it is playing in conjunction with the steel. One can easily imagine this becoming a singalong at concerts as the chorus is repeated multiple times towards the end as Matt keeps singing and allows the guitars to blend together and build the atmosphere. This is a song which encourages participation from the first, as it cries out to be clapped along to, and there is a brightness in the music which is a delight for all country fans.