Paul & Helen Mateki
Something To Sing About

©2003 World Records

	When The River Runs Dry
	Please Don't Let Me Let You Go

Back in 2001 Paul released his excellent "So Strong" album, an album that came to be very aptly named, as it spawned many a hit single, and earned this very popular artist, not just weeks, but many months at the top of various "Indie" Country Music charts. In 2001 came "Texasville", an album that had a heavy burden to carry in its quest to live up to it's predecessor.

For his latest outing, Paul is joined by his lovely wife Helen …………who is now a part of the act in the U.S……….for an album of, mainly self, or co-penned songs, that not only stand up to "So Strong", but make a downright challenge for supremacy. As I only, at this time, have a white label pre release copy, I don't have any details about the musician's or production staff, but listening to the album, Paul and Helen have surely assembled some of the finest around for the project.

Containing 12 songs, the album has a very acoustic feel to it with plenty of fiddle and a good helping of Dobro in there as well, an instrument that is always very pleasing to my ear. As I mentioned earlier, the tracks are mainly penned or co-penned by Paul and it was good to see a song on here that Paul wrote while on his tour over here 2 years ago. "He Misses The Misses", was given its first "Airing" on my Hospital Radio show, when he called in to see us and play LIVE for our listeners. This is a great song about being away from home and missing the love of your life…………. a song that many a traveling musician could no doubt relate to……….and was written on Paul's first tour away from home since he and Helen tied the knot.

Getting down to the other tracks on the here, the album kicks off with the title track, "Something To Sing About", a lively tune, that has a very strong Bluegrass feel about it, and sets the tone for the whole album. Paul has already seen success in the charts with that song as well as a couple more of the songs on here, his self penned "When The River Runs Dry" and the excellent, "Please Don't Let Me Let You Go" a bouncy tune that is sure to grab the attention as it also gives Helen the chance to show off her lovely voice on her recording debut. The song, written by I. Renie Peterson, is also one of my personal favourite's on the album.

Other tracks that stand out for me include Paul's collaboration with Bristol singer/songwriter Martin Moss, on "What Went Wrong", a catchy tune about the break up of a relationship, and his duet with Freddy Lovvorn, "Best Friends". a song that was recorded and released to radio as a single some time ago, but now gets a full release as part of this album. I also like "My One And Only", with its very catchy, trotting Banjo rhythm that gives the song a western feel.

With what could be called a cheaters waltz in, "None So Blind", the opposite theme of "We've Got A Love", plus a couple of songs written around the events of 9/11, one by Paul and the other a co-write with Rhonnie Scheuerman, and then a Christmas song thrown in for good measure, "Something To Sing About" will definitely give you something to sing about if you go out and buy a copy. Highly recommended listening!!!

Review by Ray Grundy

E:mail ray@metrocountry.co.uk

website; http://www.metrocountry.co.uk

Paul Mateki Website; http://www.paulmateki.com/

E:mail; pmateki@sbcglobal.net