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Review
Messing about with time and space is something which M. Ward does exceedingly well. Last year, the musical maverick operating from Oregon, got together with actress Zooey DeSchanel under the title of She & Him. Together they created a glorious throwback to 60s girl-groups and sunny pop with cracking choruses.
Though this outing is perhaps a touch less perky in places and prone to a darker introspection, it's just as flawless in terms of being able to dial up the sounds of another era and transposing them to the 21st Century.
With Hold Time (his sixth solo) he continues to place accomplished cover versions next to original material and defying us to spot the difference. When it comes to the business of retro-fitting pastiches, maybe only Nick Lowe does it as convincingly as this.
Full of alluring detail, Matt Ward reels the listener in hook, line and sinker; the Beach Boys' rumble of To Save Me; Jailbirds easy-going backbeat flushed with stirring Mellotron strings; front-porch folky intimacy of One Hundred Millions Years which could almost be straight out of the Library of Congress archive.
Only occasionally does the vintage patina get overdone. Never Had Anybody Like You stomps into tub-thumping Glam rock territory - an unsettling brew that imagines Trex fronted by Alvin Stardust and backed by the Glitter band.
Despite Ward's amiable growl of a voice (assisted on one track by the earthy grit of Lucinda Williams), it's an instrumental that really steals the show.
Frank Sinatra's black-dog depression torch-song, I'm A Fool To Want You, is converted into a haunting shuffle. When Ward's plaintive tremelo-heavy guitar bends into the gloom of lonesome reverb, the hairs on the back of your neck are guaranteed to stand to attention. Music filled with love and not a little wit. --Sid Smith
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Matt Ward has been quietly releasing albums of hushed folk music since 1999, but the time seems right for the world to start paying attention. 'Hold Time' sees him return to solo work after last year's collaboration with actress Zooey Deschanel as She & Him, and while he's still treading his same familiar territory, he's confirmed his status as one of the very finest old-timey troubadours.
Ward's music has a timeless quality - the fingerpicked acoustic guitar and analogue recording gives the album the same warmth that made Fleet Foxes' debut so universally loved. On `Hold Time' he sounds more than ever like a true master of his craft by pairing the formula with some of his best songs yet. The lushly-orchestrated title track is breathtaking - "I wrote this song about it/'Cos I didn't care about any worthless photographs", he sighs into the strings, his heartbroken drawl suggesting that moment is long gone.
Elsewhere, the songwriting is mostly good enough to hold up to the brave choice of covers (versions of `50s standards `Rave On' and `Oh Lonesome Me' are both solid if hardly revolutionary). `One Hundred Million Years' stands out for its beautiful guitarwork, and the strangely optimistic reflections about death on `Blake's View' reveal a new depth and variety to his lyrics. Occasionally though, he crosses the fine line into unremarkable pastiche. 'Never Had Nobody Like You' and `Fisher Of Men' are fun, simplistic rockabilly tunes but they feel somewhat unnecessary when they're in such good company. There's really no need for one-dimensional imitations of classic songwriters when he's so close to becoming one himself.
Ward's music has a timeless quality - the fingerpicked acoustic guitar and analogue recording gives the album the same warmth that made Fleet Foxes' debut so universally loved. On `Hold Time' he sounds more than ever like a true master of his craft by pairing the formula with some of his best songs yet. The lushly-orchestrated title track is breathtaking - "I wrote this song about it/'Cos I didn't care about any worthless photographs", he sighs into the strings, his heartbroken drawl suggesting that moment is long gone.
Elsewhere, the songwriting is mostly good enough to hold up to the brave choice of covers (versions of `50s standards `Rave On' and `Oh Lonesome Me' are both solid if hardly revolutionary). `One Hundred Million Years' stands out for its beautiful guitarwork, and the strangely optimistic reflections about death on `Blake's View' reveal a new depth and variety to his lyrics. Occasionally though, he crosses the fine line into unremarkable pastiche. 'Never Had Nobody Like You' and `Fisher Of Men' are fun, simplistic rockabilly tunes but they feel somewhat unnecessary when they're in such good company. There's really no need for one-dimensional imitations of classic songwriters when he's so close to becoming one himself.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like a smooth port, M Ward's timeless music sinks down very nicely indeed. Versatile and accomplished musician as he is, he also has a good ear for a catchy melody, and on this album, he has restored some classic songs with his own polish, adding his own special magic.
Delicately strummed and picked guitar, Ward's understated voice and harmonies float like a distant summer memory. Track 4, 'Hold Time', with strings, particularly sets the mood. Buddy Holly's 'Rave on' then kicks in, which although doesn't have the tempo of the original, has nice guitar flourishes added and subtle harmonies from friends.
Pleasant folky, 50s style songs fill the next few tracks, taking us to the next cracking cover, Neil Young's 'Oh lonesome me'. If you are a fan of Lucinda Williams, you will love this track, as she adds background vocals, in her cracked voice. Slow, meditating, melancholic and gorgeous - a superb rendition.
Four more worthy track's, including track 14's Link Wray/Friends of Dean Martinez sounding instumental indicates there's a great soundtrack or two in M Ward's locker.
An excellent addition to his ever growing (7 or 8?) catalogue of albums. You wont be disappointed with a purchase.
Delicately strummed and picked guitar, Ward's understated voice and harmonies float like a distant summer memory. Track 4, 'Hold Time', with strings, particularly sets the mood. Buddy Holly's 'Rave on' then kicks in, which although doesn't have the tempo of the original, has nice guitar flourishes added and subtle harmonies from friends.
Pleasant folky, 50s style songs fill the next few tracks, taking us to the next cracking cover, Neil Young's 'Oh lonesome me'. If you are a fan of Lucinda Williams, you will love this track, as she adds background vocals, in her cracked voice. Slow, meditating, melancholic and gorgeous - a superb rendition.
Four more worthy track's, including track 14's Link Wray/Friends of Dean Martinez sounding instumental indicates there's a great soundtrack or two in M Ward's locker.
An excellent addition to his ever growing (7 or 8?) catalogue of albums. You wont be disappointed with a purchase.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
An enjoyably diverse mix of pop, rock, blues, country and folk influences that treads a similar path to Wilco's `Summerteeth', Iron and Wine's `The Shepherd's Dog' and in particular the decidedly retro `1972' by Josh Rouse. A very consistent set of songs that never outstay their welcome - the 14 tracks fly by in just over 40 minutes. There are some particularly impressive moments that stand out such as the beautifully gauzy intro to the title track, the moment that `Stars of Leo' springs to life when Matt mentions New York and the stunning opening verse of `Blake's View'.
Some might dismiss this album as a touch undemanding but for me it's a laidback gem.
Some might dismiss this album as a touch undemanding but for me it's a laidback gem.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good suprise
Bought this completely off the back of my Amazon recommendations and really enjoying it- particularly rave on track, really makes me happy!
Published 10 months ago by LG
I love the pastiche
Has nobody else noticed that the Hold Time title track is pure Dino Valente.And that's no bad thing.I dug out Just for Love etc.M Ward doesn't need the twin guitars. Read more
Published 13 months ago by roly moly
Another masterpiece
I found this slightly facile on first listen, but now I think it's brilliant. Astonishing cover of "Rave On". Read more
Published on 31 May 2009 by A Reader
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