ALBUM REVIEW - Matthew Gilbert, ‘Getting Over All Of It’
Matthew Gilbert’s sophomore LP ‘Getting Over All of It’ is a well crafted 10 track adventure that displays highlights from beginning to end. Through beautifully executed instrumentation, lyrics and production, Gilbert has released his sophomore album with a soulful and relatable journey, demonstrating his growth as a promising artist in the Australian music industry.
Before getting into the music, it is important to establish a background as to how this album came to be. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign ‘Getting Over All of It’ is the lovechild of a dedicated fanbase and Gilbert’s persistence to create something new for his fans. The campaign was very successful as Gilbert smashed his $3000 target very quickly with over 50 backers! An astounding achievement for the young Victorian artist.
Written by Gilbert, mixed by Jacob Sells and mastered by Adam Dempsey, the sophomore album has a unique emotion that carries throughout and that could have only been expressed through these circumstances.
“I was planning to release these songs as singles, but when listening through I was struck at how they all flowed from similar events and themes. Not only that, but I felt a tug on my heart, there was a deep sense of ‘letting go’ I needed from this music being released in an album format. Hence, ‘Getting Over All of It’,” - Matthew Gilbert.
This immense emotional weight is felt from the beginning and remains throughout. Through soft keys and drawn-out strings, tracks, ‘How Many Times’ and ‘Promised Land’ are soulful and sombre. Allowing Gilbert’s voice and lyrics to glide gracefully over the beautiful instrumentation, ‘Promised Land’ builds on the emotion with a wonderful progression that is marked by background vocals and violins that at its climax leave you speechless.
“The process of creating this music happened over the last 2 years. In and out of lockdowns the album was recorded mostly in homes around the world. From Australia to the United Kingdom, Germany, America and Japan ‘Getting Over All Of It’ features over 23 amazing humans in its creation. All of it gorgeously arranged by myself,” says Gilbert.
From the beginning, you can tell that the track list is well thought out and crafted to express his journey. The following track, ‘At Least We Tried’ is a demonstration of how Gilbert uses instrumentation to tie his story together. Used almost as a signifier of where the LP is going, the track introduces a more folk style guitar heavy way forward. Sounding like something you would here in an old European pub, the track prepares you for the rest of the LP wonderfully. This is not the only exclusively instrumental track on the record with the title track ‘Getting Over All of It’ closing out the adventure. Reminiscent of The 1975 interludes, the track is another signifier of the step up in musical production that Gilbert has made with this LP. A very string heavy song that weighs heavy and also signifies a bright future, these instrumental tracks are certainly a welcomed addition to the record.
The LP then moves into a more percussion and guitar heavy style as tracks like ‘The Process’ and ‘Burning from The Inside’ demonstrate as the record progresses. With heavier instruments it does not diminish Gilbert’s or the featuring Sarah Young’s voices however, the lyrics complement the instruments beautifully to create this back and forward dialogue, “I hate you; I love you,” that carries the middle section of the LP. Tracks such as ‘Light the Room’ and ‘Into The Moon’ follow this trend but do not reach the heights of the aforementioned tracks, with similar very simple progressions, it’s hard for them to stake their claim on the LP.
The penultimate track however is an excellent move from Gilbert and his team. ‘Out of Contempt’ is an upbeat Coldplay-esque ballad that pulls all the best parts of this LP together. Instrumently there seems to be a purposeful attempt to show the audience everything they’ve achieved over this LP creation. A real highlight that demonstrates the bright future ahead for Gilbert.
‘Out Of The Contempt’ is the crowning jewel of the album. It’s about making the decision that I want to move on from all the hurt I’d held onto. Even though the outcome didn’t feel resolved, for my health and my wife, it was better to move on and forgive, even if we never got closure - Matthew Gilbert.
Be sure to listen to the new LP from Matthew Gilbert ‘Getting Over All Of It’ on all streaming platforms. Tickets are also available to celebrate the release at The Wesley Anne on July 30th with support from fellow RSOM community member, Rogerson.
Photo by Sarah Young.