Matthew J Tow is an Australian singer-songwriter merging out of the 90's indie rock/60's revival scene. He has been the front man and main songwriter of two previous bands, Drop City and The Lovetones which both have had an indie following abroad and a legendary following at home in OZ. Matt has also written songs for other bands including two songs (A New Low In Getting High, Starcleaner) for The Brian Jonestown Massacre. He also did a tour with The Brian Jonestown Massacre where he performed his songs live with the band in 2003.

Matt's first ever recording experience was with early 1990's indie band Splash, which was how he met Gavin Mclean that he would later form Drop City with and continue to write songs with.
He also released a series of albums under the name Colorsound between the years 1994 to 2004. These releases were distinctively more instrumental and experimental than any of his other releases. The first Colorsound album "You're Only As Good As You Sound" was released in the US on Sub Pop in 1994.

As Rolling Stone wrote in 2002, he should have probably been born a few decades earlier so he could have been a peer of Ray Davies, Lennon & McCartney and David Bowie hanging around Carnaby Street in the 1960's, because his songwriting is a strong reminder of that era. But also of the 90's and Britpop. He echoes the influences of generations but brings it together into a mix completely of his own.

Matt recently traveled from Sydney and did a US West Coast tour, and also played a string of shows with Xemu artists Strangers Family Band and Dead Meadow.

Now, for the first time, we at Xemu Records have the honor to release his new album of material as he's never done it before. It's a full length album of his songs, more intimate and stripped down than any of his previous recordings. Produced by Collin Hegna of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and with his band consisting of Collin Hegna (BJM), Ryan Carlson van Kriedt (Dead Skeletons), Maria Karlin, Jason Anchondo (The Upside Down), Paul Brainard and Brian Gardiner.

UPDATE APRIL 2016:

The new album ‘Shadows’ Reign’ by singer songwriter Matthew J Tow signals a major departure from his first solo record ‘The Way Of Things’. Whereas the former album was a sprawling psychedelic pop meditation, ‘Shadows’ Reign’ delves deeper into the darker realities of modern life.

Self produced and recorded over 2 years in Sydney, the record throws away contemplation and replaces it with the stark, bleak night-vision of the world-weary itinerant. Sometimes the light is turned on with the guitar pop of ‘Stay With Me’ but we are never far from the shadowy corners of despair in the nicotine haze of a heartless dystopian world.

The album begins as a slow burner and asks if those to come ‘will ever know of us?’ It is a requiem for those who are yet to be born. Some hope for the ones who have fallen is offered up in ‘Don’t Take It To Heart’, but it all comes crashing down and all seems lost in ‘How We Die Inside’. The Canticle reflects on lost idealism and innocence in the modern age. Finally we are offered some respite in ‘Silence’. It is a yearning for human compassion and understanding and a paean for the ages.

Shadows’ Reign is a desolate ode. An album haunted by the lost opportunities of a generation and shrouded in darkness. A reflection of these times where indeed the shadows’ reign.

Matthew J Tow is a singer songwriter from Sydney, Australia. He has had an international career in music spanning more than 25 years. Matthew lives in the inner west of Sydney with his wife Bek and tries to be a stay at home dad to his son Orson.

 

 

Xemu albums:
The Way of Things, released Spring 2013, catalog XM-1023
Shadows Reign, released digitally February 22, 2016. Physical LP's to land in July 2016! XM-1032