Recently, we spotlighted the video for the title track from the final album from UK blues-rockers Catfish, Time to Fly. Today, we’re here to tell you about the rest of that album, a bittersweet project that stands as another terrific recording for the band to be remembered after the tragic passing of its frontman Matt Long from cancer, as well as a majestic tribute to Matt.
Compiled by Catfish keyboardist/singer and Matt’s father Paul Long from a variety of sources, including a few tracks the band recorded before Matt was no longer able to play, demos from Matt’s computer with his guitar and vocals–to which the band then added bass, drums and keyboards–and a half-written song in a voice note on Matt’s phone, the album again captures the full range of the band’s capabilities, from the all-out rocking of the opening title track and other tunes such as the grunge-guitar soaked “Sick of It All” (one of two demos found on Matt’s computer) and a “Broken Halo” sung by Paul to such at least partly quiet, serene numbers as “Don’t Turn Around”, “Forevermore and Again” (both with Paul on lead vocals) and the closing “Say the Word” sung by Matt. While often poignant–particularly, for example, when hearing Paul sing lyrics such as “I know the times are getting harder, I know you should be moving on/ don’t turn around, I could never bear to see you cry”, hearing Matt and Paul sing together on the father/son duet of “Forevermore and Again”, and just generally listening to Matt’s vocals and playing throughout the album, knowing that we no longer will be able to hear his immense talents–much of the album is also triumphant, including, for example, Paul rocking out on both vocals and keys on “Broken Halo”, soaring backing vocals from Chloe Josephine, and Matt’s contributions on the title track and so many other places across the album.
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