Matthew Liam Nicholson – Dusty Bones (2021)
At some point in life, we will all feel the grief that comes from the passing of a loved one. Matthew Liam Nicholson is here to help us come to terms with this through the heartfelt meditation on grief that is ‘Dusty Bones’. While considering the feelings of the ones left behind, he also considers how we can all come together in our sadness.
While the single is rooted in the darkness of grief, there is a light that shines through letting us all know we are not alone in what we feel. Touching and poignant, the single continues the heartfelt music that Nicholson has been making for some time. While some listeners might know him from the previous monikers he has assumed, Nicholson is setting off under his own full name and drawing on the human experience to reach out.
‘Dusty Bones’ opens with a delicate mixture of alt-country and soft rock. The guitar lulls you into the movement of the melody before the drums softly enter. The layering of the melody is stunning with each layer adding its own voice to the song. The violin is a mournful thread that weeps over the earthy feeling of the lower levels. Through the melody, you can feel the tug of sadness and grief, but there is something lighter that is artfully woven between the notes. This comes through more as the single continues and the mournful violin takes on a sweeter tone. It is this movement that leads you to a sense of acceptance of the grief we all will face at some time.
While the melody brings the first tendrils of emotion to the track, it is Nicholson’s vocals that truly provide the emotive hit of the track. His vocals have a folk edge to them as they echo with the backing vocals to create a cushion that you sink into. His performance has a melancholic edge that floats into reflection. While the lyrics touch on the pain and sadness of loss, they also let you know that you are not alone in what you are feeling. This comes together for a deeply poignant and touching single that lifts you from sadness to the tentative trail of acceptance and moving on.
Matthew Liam Nicholson gently wraps you in a folk-rock tone while reflecting on grief and the light that comes from being together in sadness through ‘Dusty Bones’. The melody brings folk, alt-country and soft rock together for a moving arrangement that offers the initial touches of emotion. These touches are picked up by his vocals are woven into a deeply touching single that you want to listen to again and again.
Find out more about Matthew Liam Nicholson on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
