An Introduction to Failure – Daudi Matsiko (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Some music is made to be experienced on mass, a joint and joyous celebration to be shared with those around you. Other music is more of a one-on-one experience and Daudi Matsiko definitely falls into the latter bracket. More than just a singular experience it is also one that is personal, confessional and strikingly intimate as if the artist were on the listeners own therapist couch unburdening thoughts and feelings for your ears only.

 
It that very sparse and melancholic way of that defined the likes of Nick Drake and Damien Rice before him, Daudi blends gossamer thin sonic textures and half heard vocals to create a sound that begs the listeners attention for fear of missing anything. It is nuanced and elegant, mellow cascades of guitar picking providing most of the structure behind the voice, but for all its sparseness it is also warm and enveloping, creating an aura of hushed, late night conversations and shared memories.

It is amazing how much you can create out of so little, especially when the little you chose, rather than being the bare minimum, is everything that you need to communicate your thoughts in the most concise way.