SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE NATURAL LINES – THE NATURAL LINES

The Natural Lines
The Natural Lines
Bella Union

Sooner or later, most of us decide to take stock of our lives and make decisions that allow us to move forward. Matt Pond (formerly of band Matt Pond PA) has done exactly that, and the result is the debut album The Natural Lines by his band of the same name.

Pond, after making a series of lifestyle changes, said of the creative process, “I wanted to write an album and when it was done I wanted to make sure it was done . . . I used to be always racing to the finish line, but I’m not anymore.”

The album opens with “Monotony”, inspired by meditation and the art of breathing. It features simple instrumentation and a clever use of melody to fit the song’s lyrics. The ending of “Monotony” is unresolved, which perhaps reflects the state of Pond’s continuing life journey.

“No More Tragedies” talks about Pond’s struggles to control his impulses, discussing taking pictures of license plates on cars that are blocking his parking space, and the effort required to not smash windshields out of frustration. The music settles into a more soothing groove which serves as a nice counterpoint to this rage. On “Alex Bell” Pond playfully references Alexander Graham Bell while he talks about a need for connection. The addition of cello on this and other tracks is an effective musical choice.

Pond works closely in The Natural Lines with his longtime musical partner, guitarist Chris Hansen, and a cast of other collaborators including Anya Marina (vocals), Hilary James (cello/vocals), Kyle Kelly-Yahner (drums), Louie Lino (keys), Sarah Hansen (horns), Sean Hansen (drums/bass), Kat Murphy (vocals), and MJ Murphy (vocals).

The Natural Lines is a deeply introspective album, crafted with great care. True to his word, Pond did not race to the finish line, and the result is a very satisfying collection of songs. Fans of his work are going to be pleased with this new direction.

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