Matt Corby – Telluric: extraordinary voice and tough-but-tender songs

The Australian singer-songwriter's debut album has been a long time coming. After an uncomfortable spell in the Australian Idol limelight as a teenager nearly a decade ago, Corby took his extraordinary voice and tough-but-tender songs elsewhere with a rake of releases and tours.

After scrapping an earlier version of the album, Telluric is a strong collection that plays to Corby's strengths and influences. That voice of his works like gangbusters on both dark and light fare such as Belly Side Up and Good To Be Alone, while a fondness for blues and jazz grooves keeps Wrong Man and Knife Edge on point. On these tracks Corby's debt to the likes of Jeff Buckley and Lauryn Hill are clearest. Monday is perhaps where Corby really soars, a spine-tingling gospel-soul track capable of stopping the traffic.

[ mattcorby.com.au ]