Matthew O’Neill is a musician hailing from the Catskill mountains, USA. His approach to music is super unique and his lyrics and sonic experience packs a whole adventure through the dazzling nature he speaks (and plays his music) about. I found myself lost in a particular song of his, “Disagreement”, the second track from his new album ‘Ancestor’s Wheel.’
The song begins with a Jimi Hendrix kind of guitar section. The guitar effects are reminiscent of the 70s and his playing is so intricate, unique, and multi-layered. The drums, bass, and rhythm guitars beautifully complement the lead guitar in ways that the music world probably hasn’t known since 70s rock.
The vocals are ethereal, and before every vocal section and new movement begins we get another beautiful melodic solo- a rather creative song structure and artistic decision. I’ve also got to mention how impeccably beautiful and eloquent the lyrics are. This song has to be one of Matthew’s most poetic songs on the new album, and it succeeds in creating this sense of having a bond with nature and indulging in its beautiful scenery with all your senses.
With the song drawing near to a close, all the melodic and percussive elements that we heard at the beginning come together to make a very impressive and proggy bridge section. I’m not sure if the beat and timing go into an odd time signature or if it’s just a creative drum line that creates this sense, but it made me think so much about it, and I had to repeat to understand and take in all the details of that section. I wish I could sit and have a chat with Matthew O’Neill to ask him how he made this section, and this whole masterpiece of a track for that matter. “Disagreement” is out now on all platforms, as a part of Matthew O’Neil‘s album ‘Ancestor’s Wheel’, so be sure to give it a spin.
