It’s not very often in modern music you come across an instrumental band. Bombazine Black, the brainchild of Gersey guitarist Matt Davis, is a guitar based instrumental band that has released their second album Motion Picture; an album that sounds like the soundtrack to a movie that hasn’t been made yet, with smooth, flowing sounds that tell a story without a single word being uttered.
Most of the album was written while Matt lived in Paris with his wife, and the lifestyle and culture of the French city comes through in the music. Opening track Annelets features Parisian Vibraphone whiz Michael Emenau. On The Bel Esprit, Matt’s wife Jayne contributes piano, and the track comes across as a pop song with its repetition of riffs. Springheel Sunset was inspired by his time in America while performing on the back of the group’s debut. The longest track on the album, it has great breath and flow, and its open feel allows the track to ride through its 8+ minutes. Dark Kellys, based on Australia’s bushranger history, captures the essence of rural Victoria in the 1800s and tells a narrative through Matt’s guitar work.
Bombazine Black fuses smooth jazz, folk and blues. Motion Picture is not an album that you will pick up and listen to over and over again. It is a piece that requires a certain mood or certain atmosphere. It sits well as a backdrop to a romantic evening or as an album to listen to while reading on a lazy Sunday afternoon. If you’re looking for something a little different, give this record a spin.
