A HIGHER POWER: CMAT’S NEW ALBUM EURO-COUNTRY IS HER BEST YET
ALBUM REVIEW | CMAT – EURO-COUNTRY by Isobel O’Mahony
CMAT has always been a bigger force than we knew, but on the new record EURO-COUNTRY she is truly a higher power. Her incredible vocals and musicality command respect in all twelve tracks, and her clever lyrical dances around tricky themes make this her most impressive project yet. The album is all a celebration and critical poke at social pressures for women, economical pressures on the world and home. Tunes appear like seamless rivers of consciousness, with words, strings and drums pulled right from the artist’s mind. It is a true no-skip, no doubt, noble piece of art.
Opening tune ‘Billy Byrne From Ballybrack, The Leader of The Pigeon Convoy’ sets the stage as if you’ve woken up driving along wet roads, a familiar conversation distant in the ether. It’s a nod to her home, and fades into title track ‘Euro-country’. The Irish introduction holds so much power in this song, that picks apart the issues and love the artist has for the country. It’s a beautiful tune with a stunning bridge, crossing over the underlying social and emotional turmoil that music is built on.
The back bone of this record is its title, and country music is ever-present throughout. ‘When a Good Man Cries’ starts with a sad acoustic intro, overshone by vocals that have hit a new level. The simple guitar breaks your heart when transformed into a larger track, the production leaves you breathless and shocked. The record is fortunately tattooed with sad country tones that violently kick you. ‘Tree Six Foive’ is along a similar pipeline, although no song on this album sounds the same or leaves you feeling the same as the last. There are hints of pop synths but folk strings and heartwrenchingly lyrics break the track. Its darker, more melancholic but still carries that brilliance.
The ‘sillier’ titles, if you will, like ‘The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station’, are already international favourites for its insane sound, yet its story is just as great. It talks about an irrational hatred for seeing Jamie Oliver bloody everywhere, and is a fun reflection into our own irrational hates. There is screaming, loud drums for the angry and the mad amongst us, and an ending that blows the roof off. ‘Take a Sexy Picture of Me’ and its accompanying ‘woke macarena’ has already blown up everybody’s for you pages, but again the story is incredibly important and sadly relatable. It spotlights the perception of women, how age and beauty concerns rule our lives. It tells the universal experience of women that should not be universal. It makes you feel free, understood but at its core it’s just a bloody fun tune.
‘Ready’ is my favourite off of the album, its the twinkle on this star of a record. Harmonies float above grounding bass, whilst drums bring it down in the end. CMAT is constantly genre and emotionally bending round corners this project. ‘Iceberg’ that follows is equally strong, again harnessing a country acoustic sound. Its sad but tuneful and almost childlike in melody. Blatant Titanic references are vehicles to take you on a bigger journey of a relationship drowning, and being able to see the problem before you get it but you’re stuck. This track and ‘Coronation St’, a string and falsetto focused tune that tries to explain exhaustion, are the exhale of the album. Calm, beautiful and meaningful.
‘Lord, Let That Tesla Crash’, is the most personal song yet. Distant vocals whisper of an old life and grief whilst strings and synths moan in the back. Its simple musicality put the chorus’ devastating lyrics at the forefront, it is stunning. ‘Running/Planning’ starts to round off the album, its repetitive nature an attempt to encapsulate the constant run that women feel obligated to, especially those in the public eye. ‘Janis Joplining’ is almost a seperate project to the record. It opens on a contrasting piano, and has a jazz element that slightly puts you off kilter. However, it pulls together the record and connects the title song ‘Euro-Country’ in a pretty, loving and starry transcendent ending.
CMAT has given and given on this record. It is a genius masterpiece that takes fun titles and smashes up any expectation with hard hitting reflections of life, all within a county backdrop. She has hit the stars, and I don’t believe she’s coming back down.
