Video Premiere: Two Cent Revival “Crow”

Here is the absorbing new single ‘Crow’ from New York-based Two Cent Revival.  This atmospheric song hangs on a fabulous, melodic bass line from Tom Welsch and an excellent vocal performance that travels the dusty road between the almost-spoken storytelling of the desert-noir verses and the soaring, anthemic choruses.  That baritone voice springs forth right at the beginning of the song, giving the surreal folk-narrative a sense of immediacy and urgency, and serving to engage the listener straightaway. Two Cent Revival, also-known-as the singer-songwriter Matt Jones, demonstrates excellent songcraft, weaving together clear roots influences with a fresh, distinctive sound, creating something familiar yet entirely new.

The accompanying visual is a superb animation from The Locomotive, which captures the mood of the song, full of wide-open landscapes, the crow sweeping across a sky painted with the burning oranges and reds of sunset and images of the narrator sinking to the riverbed.  Its bold interpretation of the song fits well with lyrics that have the feel of a new southwestern myth, imbued with a sort of desert magic.  The imagery is rich in symbols and earthy turns of phrase: “Because I’ve been his home, blood, sinew and bones.”

Born in Brazil, raised in Texas and now based in New York, Two Cent Revival draws on a range of influences in his song-writing and this is reflected in the material on forthcoming album ‘Demons’, which is due to drop on 3rd September.  ‘Crow’ is the first of five singles set to be released from the new album, a collection that tackles weighty subjects like mental health, identity and cultural heritage.  His own life experiences relating to depression and ethnicity give Two Cent Revival’s narratives an enhancing authenticity and perspective.

Look out for the album later this year and, in the meantime, check this out.