Susong Matae
Sibling duo Susong has a new EP, Matae. North Carolinian brothers Matt and Michael Susong and their songs are living exemplifications of the new ground that complementarity can break. Rather than identifying as two peas in a pod, the Susong brothers individually tend toward contrasting interests and focuses. But bring their musical ideas together and the result is the unique amalgamation that blends together in their unique musical style in evidence on this EP.
The name “Matae” is an old fashioned way of saying “uncle” or tapping out/giving up. Using that as the EP title was Michael’s idea and fits with the themes of the songs, which are of relationships breaking down, finding yourself alone, darker struggles, and being locked into something inescapable. The EP holds steady just at that point where you want to cry out to give up the trials that life keeps presenting.
The album starts out ringing clear and bright with acoustic guitar, cello and vocals on “Broken French” in a relationship that keeps hanging on even though the connection between them seems to be broken down “I cannot get across the message. Like your broken French a sidewalk conversation on the wrong occasion.” The poetic lyrics are thoughtful and complex, and the vocals sound like a modern Byrds.
In “Maiden Name” there is a dreamscape sound and the vocals swirl with delay and piano resulting in a languid, sorrowful effect. “What will I do with my skin now that it’s safe” pierces through to the loneliness that comes after leaving something that was unsafe and perhaps even abusive, but familiar and which kept the loneliness at bay. On “Tethered” the bright guitar strings bring us through to “you can see it’s not going to get better, we’re still in this together.” This song works on both personal and more universal levels, as after a bit, it veers into a using darker distortion, repetitive loops and electronica. It’s all still done with reflection and lyrical poetic depth and avoids high energy unbridled meltdowns.
“You Can’t Stay Here Forever” keeps the vocals at an echoey distance, perhaps pronouncing from on high, and then it’s the ominous “I’ll bring this house down on both of us.” We’re stuck in something dark and threatening that’s not easy to liberate ourselves from.
Susong’s music blends a bit of modern dream folk elements with more 70s style vocal harmonies that pulls together from disparate perspectives that you can hear as a unified style in their songs. This EP adeptly explores dark themes of being stuck in mortal combat with someone or something, or perhaps ultimately with ourselves; all done over a vibe of self-conscious reflection.
Find more details here on their website: https://www.susongmusic.com/music
The EP was recorded and produced by Matt and Michael Susong. It was edited, mixed and mastered by Pablo Vega of The Workshop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
All vocals and instruments were played or programmed by Matt and Michael except piano on “Maiden Name” and “Broken French” was performed by Alex Warner of the Charlotte band To Better Waters; and Ariadne Zitsos sang featured vocals on “You Can’t Stay Here Forever” and backing vocals on “Broken French.” Cover art for the EP was created by Minneapolis-based artist Thomas Gleaner.
