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Review: 'SAYLES, MATT & DSC'
'Manifest Refugees'   

-  Label: 'Philville Records'
-  Genre: 'Alt/Country' -  Release Date: '9th February 2018'

Our Rating:
Matt Sayles' six piece backing band are The Detroit Sportsmen's Congress (DSC) an official sounding body who presumably had a part to pay in penning the band's elaborate mission statement which is "To draw out the echoing twang, reverbs and darkness from the mouldering remnants of manifest destiny that still mournfully beat in the hearts of our unknowing constituency".

Such a wordy and pretentious description is at odds with the relatively down to earth alt.country sound we hear.

A pedal steel guitar is frequently used to add pathos to the song stories of elusive dreamers and wounded drifters and the opening two tracks set the scene. In Old Man's First Call Sayles is feeling sad and worn away in same old barroom and this is followed by his account of battling with his Demons And Demagogues.

The ghosts of Woody Guthrie and Gram Parsons are conjured up for inspiration and electric Dylan is another obvious influence on the arrangements.

The earthy approach never departs very far from conventional models so the tunes are probably heard to best advantage in sweaty bars.   
  author: Martin Raybould

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SAYLES, MATT & DSC - Manifest Refugees