I find privately recorded projects such as "Models Of Perfection?' so tough to review as they inevitably have to stand comparison with 'mega bucks' productions. Ian "Doyle" Mills and Ivor Hutchinson are the two guys who form the duo Under The Mat and who live in Northern Ireland. They have put together five tracks that in their own words have a relaxed "stripped down" feel with primarily acoustic instruments. All the songs feature some fine guitar playing whether it's the sensitive "Deliverance" or the strong driving beat of "There's Always You" which is a touch repetitive hut emphasises the message that when everyone else fails us. God is always there for us. "Born To Be King" is perhaps a little too long but has a good melody and incorporates some electric guitar which at one point put me in mind of Bo Diddely on the old Chess record label. The strengths of this tape lie in the guitar playing and some thoughtful lyrics but suffers from poor vocals, which are off key in places and lack of imaginative song composition.
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Posted by Doyle Mills in OMAGH, N. Ireland @ 00:45 on Aug 2 2006
Thanks for a balanced review, Brian. It's good to see some
positives, and I have taken on board the constructive
criticism.
Under the mat don't exist any more but it was a fun project,
although it may have been better if it had been taken more
seriously at the time.
Thanks for a balanced review, Brian. It's good to see some positives, and I have taken on board the constructive criticism.
Under the mat don't exist any more but it was a fun project, although it may have been better if it had been taken more seriously at the time.