On The Library on the Very Backside of This Place, from MYTH: Facet Two, the Stirling-hailing troubadour of uncooked rancour, The Narcissist Cookbook (Matt Johnston) delivered an acoustic punk sermon that cuts proper to the core.
Opening with ragged, chopped guitar chords, the observe clears a barren stage for Johnston’s uncooked spoken-word poetry to take centre stage. Every phrase furls like smoke above the sparse instrumentation, leaving area for the jagged lyricism to pierce via and embed itself within the listener’s psyche.
Marked with defiance and rage, Johnston’s supply ensures each ounce of sentiment lands with weight, echoing the poetic depth of Impartial Milk Lodge, Amigo the Satan, and ROAR. Stripped again to its uncooked bones, the observe’s minimalist instrumentation heightens the visceral connection, proving that much less may be infinitely extra when the narrative is that this evocative.
Johnston could have solely developed their histrionic half-spoken vocal type after dropping their singing voice, however even away from conventional semblances of concord, the observe leaves nothing to be desired in the way in which of euphony.
With almost 100 sold-out headline tour dates throughout the US and Europe, 30 million+ streams, and acclaim as one in every of Scotland’s most profitable cult artists, Johnston’s potential to create artwork that defies expectation is unparalleled.
Stream and buy The Library on the Very Backside of This Place on Bandcamp now.
Assessment by Amelia Vandergast