Matt Zajac’s latest album Garden Of Hedon features nude figures beside waterfall in a private jungle. The striking album cover imagery reflects the strong musical personality that central-Massachusetts-based Zajac brings to his music. Singer-songwriter-guitarist-drummer for this album, he delivers all of his songs with a strong musical personality. His music isn’t so much hard rocking as it is a force of nature that pours out the stereo speakers.
Opening cut “Welcome Song” finds Zajac in fine vocal form, his smooth voice spreading warmly over a wide, sweeping sound of guitar, bass, and drums. The instrumentation beneath his voice, rangy, and pure, catches a lot of energy like a sailing ship in the wind. Zajac, Steve Serra’s lead guitar work, and his drumming, and his band mates keep this one moving with ripples of notes that keep humming even after they’ve been played.
“Lady In White” rocks a bit harder, its upper registers swagger around its groove with personal oomph from each player. Zajac injects a feisty slide guitar line with snappy action one cannot ignore. There is a 1970s classic rock vibe going on here and throughout this album. Textures from the guitar, organ, and the rhythm section play with cool aplomb and make a good home for Zajac’s charismatic vocal ride.
Reminding of the majestic guitar work in Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” “Daisy Chain” feels epic in its musical scope. Zajac maintains a rocker hip cat’s sly vocal approach. His voice here is a like a friendly whisper into your ear to share some hushed information. Serra’s lead guitar entangles around the groove with icy precision while shining bright. Slightly Beatlesque in his creamy smooth chorus, Zajac reveals a knack for delivering something very hooky and very pleasant.
“Reason To Sing” builds up from a springy lead guitar phrase to a crawling mid tempo expression of all that is in this singer-songwriter’s heart. Serra’s lead guitar smolders, burns with a bright flame, and the cushion of organ from keyboardist Johnny Keys and the groove beneath it mushroom out into their own three dimensional life.
Zajac conjures a floating, dreamy vibe on “Open Road.” His light, melodic lead guitar line and its cushion of organ are warm enough to invite everyone along on this magic carpet ride. Each of Serra’s brittle guitar notes adds to this painterly life story this songwriter unfolds. Moving at a considerate pace, this tune features many moving parts and each of it together creates a very exciting sound.
“Thrill Of The Chase” rocks right out with near reckless abandon. With Zajac’s aggressive chorus and a guitar line part weepy and part angry, this one serves up plenty of attitude. That guitar continues to make its point with a sharp expression and the rhythm section carry it along with a snappy twist all their own. One has got to hear how this rhythm section is at once smooth and aggressive. Zajac on drums and bass player William Sullivan really know how to lock into a groove.
The mellower, down tempo “Sweet Forever” has pillows of organ chords, light touches of electric guitar, and a rhythm section that moves it along. It is impressive how this rhythm section’s actions are so sensitive to what the song needs. Zajac’s ability to lay a breezy song structure is in full force here. When he chimes in with his natural flow of voice, he glides over the floating organ and his mellow chord progression, each respecting the other’s space, and that keeps this whole affair in a beautiful, multi layered motion.
A sly cooing intro carries the listener right into closing track “Brother Judas.” Accompanied by Katie Russo Thompson’s forlorn violin line, the two sweet melodic lines lead us into the tender center of this piece. Zajac sings this one low key, a self-restrained vocal approach that empowers itself even more by not unleashing all of its force in a belt. Serra’s lead guitar sings the pretty melody beside the violin and injects more beauty and passion into this song.
Zajac has composed and recorded some of the coolest classic rock influenced songs around on this Garden Of Hedon album. Its truly a treat for the ears and the soul to hear this kind of music played well such and soul. It is also a treat to hear it played so well by so many pro players. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mike Fitzmaurice at Studio Kujo in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Garden Of Hedon is a winner by any set of standards.
