Matt Harlan and Rachel Jones

Anderson Fair presents Matt Harlan and Rachel Jones. With Rebecca Loeb.

If there’s a performer today that embodies the oft-applied moniker of “songwriter’s songwriter” it’s Houston favorite, Matt Harlan. A troubadour of the first degree, Matt has been bringing his songs of bus-stops, coffee-shops and lives overlooked to stages across his home-state of Texas, the USA and Europe.

Raven Hotel, the third CD from Matt Harlan, hangs together like a mural illustrating the urban images of daily life with pastoral reverence.Harlan is a winner of multiple songwriting accolades, from outfits like American Songwriter and Billboard.

As this collection shifts from jazzy torch songs, to roots-rock numbers and plaintive folksongs it becomes clear why he was featured alongside such legendary figures as Lyle Lovett and Guy Clark in the documentary, For the Sake of the Song, about Houston’s iconic Anderson Fair.

On Raven Hotel, Harlan’s voice has gained a smoothness that permeates these songs, easing listeners in to difficult topics like race relations (“Old Allen Road”) or comforting them through tumultuous personal relationships (“We Never Met”).

The music fits these stories like a glove, whether it buoys optimistic sentiments from the road with bluegrass elements (“Half Developed Song”) or illuminates the bright sides of dark places with bouncing electric guitars (“The Optimist”). A familial vibe is introduced as Harlan’s wife Rachel Jones lends crystalline harmonies to the mix (“Old Spanish Moss”) and commands attention with lead vocals (“Riding with the Wind”).

The recordings are also filled with cameos from expert musicians like Mickey Raphael (“Slow Moving Train”) and Floyd Domino (“Burgundy and Blue”) that incorporate the signature textures of Texas.

Rachel Jones, Matt’s wife, offers vocal back-up on the album and though the addition of family may have fit in budget, Rachel’s voice is an instrument that compliments Matt’s like the high roaming fiddles (“Old Spanish Moss”), fat organ chords (“The Optimist”) and the road that flashes by under “Second Gear”. Rachel attaches to the percussive motion of “Rising with the Wind”, the only thing separating her from the groove is the tender notes that dot the track.

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