Matthew Friedberger

Winter Women & Holy Ghost Language School

Matthew Friedberger, ½ of the Brother /Sister duo, The Fiery Furnaces, makes up for the loss of his sister Eleanor on his first solo outing by recording two albums. The first of which, Winter Women is the more accessible of the pair. Winter Women is full of bright synth melodies and basic drum machine beats that, along with washed out sound of Friedberger’s vocals, dissolve the esoteric subject matter of the songs that at times read like clippings from old newspapers. Holy Ghost Language School on the other hand, is dense and has a wandering sound that only rarely falls into a groove. However intentional that may be, it still sounds scattered. Think of these discs as both sides of Friedberger’s songwriting capabilities. Where Winter women is tight and poppy, Holy Language is more loose and unusual. On the Fiery Furnances’ records you can appreciate the contrast, but here they are isolated.

Winter Women & Holy Ghost Language School will be released Tuesday August 8th on 859 Recordings.

Website: The Fiery Furnaces
Label: 859 Recordings