Words: James Woolen
‘Runaway Road’ is Mat Hook’s debut solo single, following a lengthy absence from Sheffield’s music scene. Due to testing times that led to him feeling that he would never be involved with music again, it’s great hearing the ex-Kartica frontman making some noise again, returning with a wonderful piece of music.
The song was produced by Paul Tuffs, with Matt Dacey (drums), Dave Howard (rhythm/bass), Sam Cotterill (lead) and finally Mat himself – credited with songwriting, vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, piano and last but not least, egg shaker!
In Mat’s words: “The song is about gaining direction, and gathering the wind in your sails again.”
‘Runaway Road’ is a classic example of indie rock, with splashes of Oasis and the Verve. On the latter point, the song itself has a vibe similar to ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ – especially the acoustic live version which was recorded and released last year!
The song kicks off with a great guitar riff, introducing some nice melodic tones. Mat’s vocals resonate well, showcasing his experience as a singer/songwriter, evocatively expressing the meaning and message behind the song. The band members meld together to create a pleasing resonance of instrumental harmony; the song brilliantly builds into a wonderful wall of sound, with many musical layers that fans will find appealing.
Overall, the song is a fantastic debut release from Hook. Skilfully produced by Paul Tuffs, with a great-sounding backing band and Mat’s prodigious vocal skills.
Available on Spotify/iTunes etc at www.mathook.com
