The Suitcase Junket – Make Time

The Suitcase Junket — the alter ego of Amherst, MA’s Matt Lorenz — just released his third full-length record, Make Time, on January 6, 2015. Junket by definition is “to entertain; feast; regale.” Entertain, check that, Lorenz has it covered.  The throat singing, slide guitar destroying, salvaged and repurposed “trash” turned percussive instrument inventor, Lorenz is a genuine throwback. He appears as if he could be Woody Guthrie’s sidekick, can write songs that gently stream through folk-rock and blues, that meander through rarely traveled valleys of poignant pop-ish punk… then there’s the throat singing.

Channeling his inner Tuvan, Lorenz’s singing voice comes from somewhere at the fringe of guttural and hummingbird nectar-sweet. There’s a tinge of Waits and a hint of Dylan, in both vocal styling and social consciousness — the way his songs are crafted and honed, not strewn about. “New Old Friend” opens Make Time, almost as an introduction to his unique singing voice, and he’s openly in search of someone or something, be it physical or spiritual. The mostly a capella song is set off by a single struck chord — more of a ploy for your attention than anything more. Spooky yet ethereal, it’s a unique way to open an album, nonetheless. It sets the tone for the raucous boom bap, deliciously distorted punk blues number “Earth Apple.” That’s definitely a sheepish segue if not almost tongue-in-cheek, but it’s Lorenz making sure you know where his flag flies

Make Time truly travels to various destinations of musical fortitude and emotion. From the aforementioned, to the pop-tinged, “Made Of Rain” with its homemade instrument solo and catchy chorus to the heady “So No,” another showcase of Lorenz’s vocal range, and the soul that emits from his innards. Keep in mind that he plays every single sound your hear by himself, recorded live with only a couple overdubs at Sonelab in Easthampton, MA, with Justin Pizzoferrato (Pixies, Thurston Moore) in the control room. The finished product is powerful, the message relayed, and the dust left to settle. It’s one hell of a ride that holds its resonance well after the record has stopped spinning. The Suitcase Junket will be touring nationwide in support of Make Time, “making what he wants” in 2015. Get involved early.

+Words: Scott Zuppardo+

 

 

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