Heartfelt folk from the middle of Connecticut.
Mt. Gribley is the musical moniker for folk singer-songwriter Matt Jarrett. His latest album is a deeply personal set of songs which he describes as “a break-up album, minus the break-up”. This requires a little explanation. Jarrett’s wife moved to the UK to study, leaving him in Connecticut. A long-distance relationship has its challenges within the same country, but with over 3000 miles between you, it takes some navigation. Jarrett explains how he became a single parent overnight, dealing with everything that entails and not having his wife around for practical and essentially emotional support. “Moss On The Stone” is born out of that situation, and the feeling of loss and despair runs through it; that isn’t to say it doesn’t include any hope and moments of joy.
The single “Mourning Light” begins proceedings. The almost jaunty music belies the lyrical content. Jarrett’s drop thumb guitar chops its way through that difficult period when you know it is time to get up, but you want to go back to the dream you have been having. Jarrett sings “Hey, you mourning light / The clouds are floating free, but the fog is right”. The opener gives you a feel of what to expect throughout. The album was recorded in just five days, and that freshness and spontaneity are evident in the tracks.
The collection features excellent, compelling instrumentation. The piano fills on ‘The Wishing Well’ are particularly impressive, along with the harmonica. The folk troubadour to the fore, feeling a little sorry for himself at a time when nothing seemed to be going right. Jarrett lyrically reduced to searching the bottom of the wishing well and offering body parts to placate the god of misfortune. “I won’t give my eye in sacrifice / Oh no / You can’t have my eye, but would a toe suffice?”
‘Kerosene’ uses an electric guitar to pick out the notes with a slow, building hum in the background. Jarrett cannot explain this song, only to say it felt right. It gives a feeling of the great outdoors, possibly a feeling of loneliness, as if you are outside of the world around you. It doesn’t need to make sense, as it is just a gorgeous piece of music and sets everything up for the next track, which is a tale born from a cabin and a simple campfire.
Jarrett’s love of solitude shines through on the tune ‘Firefight’, written in his cabin in the woods at the centre of Connecticut. One of his trips to the cabin resulted in this beautiful ode to his time alone with nature. The cabin was gifted to him by the family, and it keeps on giving. Jarrett, in complete isolation, sat in front of the campfire, coming up with lyrics and music.
Lyrically, there is much to admire as Jarrett captures emotions and situations with clever observations and wordplay. Musically, the songs do not stray too far from the same formula, with ‘Kerosene’ slowing the pace and the final track, ‘The Long Road’, giving us a lively end to the set. This one was recorded at the end of the studio sessions in the garage with a single microphone. It’s a wonderful conclusion as Jarrett comes out of the four-year break-up, minus the break-up, ready to face what comes next. Completing the record with the hopeful words “Embrace the days, and together we go / On the back half of our long road to forever.” A fine sentiment indeed.
