Roxwell's past proves to be ethereal for Matilda Mann

A BRIT School alumni who broke through in 2020 with her EP If It Makes Sense, she follows along the same generation of Gen-Z artists who aspire to make poetry out of music. Her love of mixing indie folk with more overt rock influence owes itself to Hop Along or Big Thief’s perfective use of such over the past decade. With Laura Marling as one of her mentioned big inspirations in starting her career up, many of her lyrical themes focus on the past alongside long-done relationships and introspection.

A self-described concept album named after her childhood home, her debut album Roxwell seeks to examine her bildungsroman-esque journey to maturity with her love life often taking the spotlight. From the start of “At The End Of The Day”, we are immediately introduced to a string of simple, yet delicate guitar playing as she reminisces about the misconceptions made between her past and her newfound wisdom. “Worst Person Alive”, ironically titled given the subject matter, hits the synth-deep climax at the admission of incompatibility to end a toxic relationship. Lastly, “Everything I’m Not” and “All That Was Said” both focus on escapism albeit from different perspectives as they respectively look into idealisation and its eventual break in the face of an ending friendship.

The mentioned tracks so far are among the best as they rely largely on Mann’s vocals and her guitar proficiency. This however doesn’t mean that the music is entirely indie folk. As a whole, the music leans more into rock along the lines of Rilo Kiley’s everyday problems. “Say It Back” sees its mixing put the snare at the forefront alongside a catchy guitar riff to punctuate the frustration of being in a one-sided relationship. If anything, they adhere in a way towards The Killers’ past revival of new wave. “See You Later” has the jangles of Alvvays’ twee pop style over the subtle highs of being in love, supplemented by the harmonic reverbs of the chorus. Otherwise, bass-boosted “Autopilot” tackles the feeling of depersonalisation in the process of growing up.

What makes much of Roxwell a tad bit perplexing for a listen is that its stylistic divergence at times errs towards Clairo’s soft sophisti-pop. Pristine the production can be, it can come off as being pretty easy to overdo. “Meet Cute” subverts its title's insinuation in favour of a more sultry emphasis on the vocal delivery and a boom-bap-like percussion rhythm which feels out of place with much of the album. Yet, such a problem persists as well in “Dazed & Confused” when the country-esque kick of the fingerstyle riff contrasts with the clear tinkering done to enhance Mann’s singing via the reverbs. A particular low point is “Common Sense” where the need for vocal layering and dramatic strings – and a pause before the cacophony – hyperbolise the emotive impact of the track.

For a bit of saving grace, there is one particular praise that is worth adding in. While the aforementioned use of strings can be too much at times, sparse use of it can add a delightful texture. “Just Because” chorus sees the violin appear, adding to the dissonance of being in a superficial relationship compared to the more alt-pop style that masks the lyrics. “Tell Me That I’m Wrong”, on the other hand, sees it accentuates the heartbreak that comes from growing apart. Not only from the love interest but even inferentially from family or friends in moving onward to the next stage of life.

The finale in “Girls” has the strings used in a more funereal sense. As Mann looks back at her life, she realises that she grew up beyond recognition, and accepts closure that her experiences have made her who she is. Even sparingly used, it highlights the best of Roxwell as a concept album that focuses on her growth towards adulthood. The album might not be a definite masterwork due to its stylistic inconsistency, but it is wholeheartedly earnest. It serves as a sobering reminder that our past defines who we are and although the lyricism might not exactly be the most literate, it can strike the heart of those who thought long about their road to maturation.