Self-Released

Recorded in just seven days, Matt Trowbridge’s Radio Soap Star Opera nonetheless took three years to complete. This is because the former RANA keyboardist had to bide his time waiting for his friends’ schedules to clear. Since his friends included Joe Russo, Marco Benevento, Dave Dreiwitz and Kevin Kendrick this is certainly understandable. The results are certainly worth the wait.

Trowbridge, who now makes his living as teacher, moves away from RANA aesthetic on this release as there is little sense of indie irony. Instead Radio Soap Star Opera is much closer to a singer/songwriter pop album. It’s good stuff if not altogether new, although at times as the arrangements swell with horns and vibes it does feel unique. What will be interesting is to see what comes next, as there is potential for Trowbridge to continue down this path and develop his own singular style.