You know my posts are usually from new or almost new acts, or from not so new artists that deserve a wider recognition. Among the latter, there's surely the underground hero Matthew Mayfield. I always write a couple of lines about him when he releases a new album. Well, Matt's new record was released last Friday, September 7, on Sweet Exchange Records, preceded by the single History (watch the video clicking on the image).

Recoil was produced by Paul Moak, who Mayfield counts as, "one of the most gifted producers, players, songwriters, and overall artists I've ever met." This is the third full-length album the two have recorded together, and Moak's talents played a major role in making Recoil special.

Recoil is a sonic and lyrical departure from his previous release, Wild Eyes. Wild Eyes was a collection of songs created over time that reflected different periods in Matthew's life. Recoil, by contrast, was born quickly and violently, the fruit of an intense effort by Mayfield to depict the good, the bad, and the ugly in the present world he inhabits. If Wild Eyes was delicately chiseled into being, Recoil was hewed into existence with hammers and claws. According to Mayfield, "making Recoil was extremely hard -I had to drag the songs out of me and stick with them until they said exactly what I needed them to say." The result of this hard work is Mayfield's most deeply personal album to date, one defined by brutal honesty and beautiful sound.

Recoil is one of the most emotional records of the year: stream it on YouTube or on Spotify and support this extremely gifted artist!

Schematic is the new project by Dave Elkins, formerly frontman of alternative pop-rock band Mae.

After a very successful decade fronting Mae, Dave packed his bags and relocated to Nashville for the start of something new. With four LP's, three EP's, and over half a million album sales under his belt worldwide, Elkins longed to refine his approach to making records, to experiment with the unknown. The result emerged under the moniker Schematic.

Elkins released the first EP under the name Schematic in 2012, and signed with Spartan Records in 2013 to release at the beginning of this month the band's first full-length album, "Color (n.) Inside The Lines", a brilliant and breathtakingly complex record you just can't miss.

Landing on a particular sound for Schematic was, and remains to be, a journey that is constantly evolving. Sonically, the album draws heavily from Elkins' progressive pop leanings, but delves into a new territory of experimentation with compelling grooves, interweaving time signatures, and unique instrumentation. In addition to Elkins' adept handiwork, the record features a veritable dream team of producers and contributors. With additional engineering and production by Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Lovedrug); co-writes by Stephen Christian (Anberlin) and Mark Padgett (Mae); and guest musical appearances by Jeremy Lutito (Leagues), Chase Lawrence (Coin), and Eleanor Denig, "Color (n.) Inside The Lines" was a process of diverse brilliant collaboration.

Watch the lyric video for the first single off the album,"Stand" following this link.