By Conor O’Neill
Belfast duo Dea Matrona’s eagerly awaited debut album For Your Sins is out on May 3rd. The pair met at school and with similar tastes in music they soon found themselves busking on the streets of their home city. Comprised of Orlaith Forsyhe and Mollie McGinn, the multi instrumentalists swap bass, guitar and lead vocal duties, depending the song – and, if Wikipedia is to be believed, because of the weight of the bass while busking.
Enough of the tittle-tattle… is For Your Sins any good? The answer is, a resounding yes. 12 songs, the vast majority of them under the three minute mark, meaning all songs are perfect for radio play. There are some crackers on show here. And, yes, they have been the darlings of local media for a few years now.
(For the curious and etymologists among you, the name ‘Dea Matrona’ is from Celtic mythology meaning Divine Mother Goddess.)
Opening with the second single to be released from the LP, Stuck On You is a statement of intent. Think PJ Harvey Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea era and you’re closing in on the sound and theme of this little gem. But indie pop is not Dea Matrona’s only string to their collective bow. Stamp On It and Red Button do more than hint at 70s glam rock. With big basslines and that distinctive massive drum sound, you’ll find your feet thumping the floor as the duo move from woes of the heart to an overt political theme in this unsettled world. They do cast a wide net.
I’ve read several times of the Led Zeppelin influence, and yes, it is here, but not worn so brashly as former Northern Ireland Zep’ stalwarts from a decade or two ago, Downpatrick’s own The Answer. Other influences are on show here, Glory, Glory (I Am Free) could easily have came from the canon of the Dolly Parton songbook, while track eight Did Nobody Ever Love You is bluesy and so whimsical it bears strains of Sheryl Crow.
*Orlaith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn – Dea Matrona*
The third single from the album Every Night I Want You is an out-and-out pop record, unashamedly so and deserves as many spins on the radio as DJs see fit. It’s sugar sweet, combining strong chord progressions with beautiful harmonies and lifting lead vocals. Most of the songs are beautifully crafted and something to note is Dea Matrona really know how to break a tune down for funky and stylish middle eights, that’s one of the most refreshing little details of this long player; every tune will surprise you somewhere along the way.
Is it all killer and no thriller? Sadly not, track seven Wilderness just doesn’t sit well with me. May be it’s the strange time signature or the stop/start nature of the song, but I think the LP would have been better off without it. But 11 sings out of 12 is a good ratio.
For Your Sins is an easy listen. They’re not reinventing the wheel here, and while easy on the ear don’t be expecting to be challenged too much by this record. Given their youth and the fact that this is their first album, they will grow with time and maybe in the future Dea Matrona will deliver a truly fantastic LP.
In the meantime they’ve gave birth to a delightful debut and something to grow from.
The duo, with session musicians embark on a UK and Ireland tour from May 3rd and will be playing Dublin’s Workman’s Club on Tuesday May 21st and Belfast’s Limelight on May 22nd.
To buy the album simply go to https://deamatrona.co.uk/#for-your-sins and get clicking.
You’ll not regret buying this little gem of a record.
ENDS
CultureCrush NI 