Adelaide musician Matthew Hill is nearing the release of his debut solo album under The Man Himself guise.
Frontman for Britpop-styled band Ghyti (who have shared stages with Regurgitator, Custard, Jeremy Neale, Ash Grunwald, and EVEN), The Man Himself released his debut EP, 'Worlds Apart', in 2020 followed by the single 'Gang Of Youths' in 2021.With the 'All Day Breakfast' album coming in mid-2023, the first sample of the record is 'Illiterati', a track that was recorded in Brooklyn, NY, at Deep Dive Recording by Mitch Rackin, before being mixed by Magoo (Regurgitator, Custard) in Brisbane, and mastered by William Bowden at King Willy Sound in Launceston.
"'Illiterati' is a song about people who think they know something about everything," begins Matthew. "There are always a lot of opinions around, probably more than ever now, and it can get a bit tiring when someone just won't admit they don't know something.
"It's a kind of insecurity I guess. But it's also pretty funny when some loud, confident person is completely oblivious to how much they don't know.
"Like it's all image, trying to look smart or cool, but actually coming off like a jerk. It's a song for all those people who will never admit it's about them."
Here, Matthew deep dives into the structural merit of the world's biggest suspension bridges, 'cause why not. "The question I am most often asked is: 'Who are you, and how did you get in here?'
"But a close second would have to be: 'How influenced are you by the work of French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel?'
"Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is 'not very much'. Of course, Eiffel is not the only designer of major public infrastructure who has had practically no impact on my own work.
"As an example, here is what I think are the top 5 suspension bridges that have absolutely nothing to do with me."
Oakland Bay Bridge
Designed by Charles H. Purcell and opened on 12 November 1936, this dual-span San Francisco landmark has a total length of 7.18km and carries more than 260,000 vehicles over its double-decked platforms.My newest single 'Illiterati', by contrast, is 2 mins and 23 secs long, and really can't support heavy traffic.
Hardanger Bridge
Spanning the Eidfjorden in Vestland county, and connecting the municipalities of Ullensvang and Ulvik, the Hardanger Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Norway.The building project had a budget of 2.3 billion Krone. So far, this exceeds my usual budget for recording an album, despite multiple arts grant applications.
Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Opened in 1849, the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Hungary was designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark and built by Scottish engineer Adam Clark. It was destroyed during WWII by the retreating Germans in January 1945, and rebuilt in 1949.I've not had the chance to play to a German audience, but I've only had good relations with the German people I've met so far. So, to be honest, this is not really an experience I can relate to.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
The second longest bridge in the world was built to withstand winds of 286 km/h and earthquakes up to magnitude 8.6, which are common in Japan. I really struggle in those conditions.Also, while designer Satoshi Kashima was clearly focused on strength and structural integrity, in my own work I'm far more concerned with lyrics, rhythm and melody. Not very much in common at all.
1915 Çanakkale Bridge
With a main span of 2,023 metres, this imposing Turkish structure is the longest suspension bridge in the world, and also the second tallest. It has been variously described as 'a bold and innovative statement', 'a towering monument to the ingenuity of humankind', and 'pretty neat'.I have had very few similar reviews myself, so it seems there is a significant difference between the two projects. Having said that, my newest single has only just been released, so perhaps it's too early to say.
Next week: The top 5 songs of Lizzo that don't mention North Sea oil drilling.
