Syd Matters

After a string of European releases and some advance buzz garnered by the use of one of Syd Matters' songs on The O.C., this self-titled disc is the U.S. debut by French singer/songwriter Syd Matters. That TV showcase is something of an outlier, however, with its double-tracked harmonies, lazy shuffle beat, Lindsey Buckingham-style acoustic guitar hook, and perfectly deployed strings. Opening track "To All of You" is a lovely slice of retro California rock that would sound perfectly right on the radio next to singles by James Blunt and Daniel Powter. The rest of Syd Matters is both less commercially minded and less immediately appealing, but closer listening reveals greater depth. Beth Orton's blend of acoustic folk melodies and chilly electronics is the most obvious touchstone, although Matters' heart is clearly in the first half of the folktronica portmanteau: fans of Elliott Smith, José González, and other heirs to Nick Drake's throne will find much to their liking in heartfelt songs like "Icare." Although Matters' hushed and lightly accented voice and delicate acoustic guitar work are at the center of the entire album, his clever use of time signature, tempo, and arrangement shifts that function as brief codas to the songs themselves and saves the album from the repetitive, samey quality that mars many similar records.