Bio

Singer-songwriter Paul M Mathias was a frequent performer in the London folk scene in the early 1970s and names among his influences, Donovan, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.

God Of The Winds (Jan 1st 2021 Release)

God Of The Winds  (2021)

 

‘God Of The Winds’ is 14-track instrumental album of all new guitar, Greek bouzouki and piano compositions/improvisations. There is an autobiographical aspect to the album with Greek heritage being the main theme. 

The title of this album,‘God Of The Winds’, is a reference to Homer’s The Odyssey, where Odysseus stops at the island of Aeolia, whose king was Aeolus, the keeper of the Four Winds of Greek Mythology. Aeolus provided Odysseus and his men a west wind to carry them home to Ithaca. He also gave them a gift of a bag containing all winds but the west. Odysseus and his crew traveled steadily for several days, but with Ithaca in sight, Odysseus’ men opened the bag while he was asleep and the imprisoned winds burst out with such a roar that the force drove the ship back to Aeolus' island. Post-Homeric scholars regarded Aeolus as a god rather than keeper of the Winds and was thus later referred to as God of the Winds. In the context of this album ‘God Of the Winds’ implies that we are ultimately in control of our own destiny. The 14 tracks of the album are:

Twice A Stranger (Bouzouki) – Migrants who are strangers in both lands Calliope (Guitar) - Meaning ‘beautifully voiced’ – the muse of epic poetry Islands (Piano) - A lament at leaving your country, passing islands on the way Endless (Piano Improvisation) – How long must we live like this Meraki (Passion) (Bouzouki) – No matter what you remain strong God Of The Winds (Guitar) – You have control over your destiny Father’s Day (Piano) – The joy of fatherhood  Alexander The Great (Bouzouki) – What else would name your son Prince Of LA (Guitar) – You’ve made it Santa Barbara (Piano) – A place of joy and happiness for a special couple Odyssey (Bouzouki) – Life’s journey Minor Imperfections (Piano Improvisation) - We all have them Wishing You Well (Piano Improvisation) – It’s all we want for you Poulaki Mou (My Little Bird) (Bouzouki) – Calliope’s son
Listen On Spotify

Together (2020)

‘Together’ is a ‘concept’ album of new instrumental guitar and piano compositions inspired by current events. The compositions follow a sequence of ideas: 1.‘Something In The Air’, 2.‘Trouble’s Coming’, 3.‘Lockdown’, 4.‘Distancing’, 5.’I Wish I Was With You’, 6.‘Tempus Figit’, 7.‘Running Low’, 8.‘Remembrance’, 9.‘Dance In The Park (Sarah’s Dance)’, and 10.‘Together’. Track 11 completes the album with a new song ‘Before You Fly’. Two pieces – ‘Something In The Air’ and ‘Dance In The Park (Sarah’s Dance)’ are performed on a 6-stringed Greek Bouzouki.  Tracks 1 to 8 are live recordings, including piano improvisations, which give an ‘organic’ feel to the album.

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Home And Dry (2020)

Home And Dry is an album of newly composed original songs and music featuring guitar, harmonica and piano: ‘Rock And Roll’, ‘You Me’,  ‘Home And Dry’,  ‘Make Way ‘,  ‘Change’ and ‘Train Of  Thought’ (instrumental piano). ‘Rock And Roll’ and ‘Home And Dry’ are recorded in two versions; as slow piano ballads and vibrant live guitar recordings.  Enjoy

Song For Sale (2016) 

Song for Sale is a collection of original songs spanning over thirty years. The album represents a personal musical journey of life, love, imagination and philosophy of which the final song – Song For Sale – aptly sums up a personal and musical life. 

Some of these songs have been remixed and remastered from the original monocassette recordings - So Far To Go, 1982 and Go Taste The Water, 1994. Other older songs have been re-recorded (2013) - Summer Song, 1973, Please Reply, 1975 and You Came Into My Life, 1976).  Later songs are Choose The One To Love (Featuring Alex Mathias on Saxophone), 2002, Son and Happy, 2003, while newer songs include Gathering, Ballad of the Golden Earth and Song For Sale (2011 – 2015). 

All songs were remixed and remastered in 2016 by PM, with many thanks to Alex for his encouragement and help with the production. 

However, there’s more to come...... 

Turning Back (1973) 

PM made many recordings in the 1970s on an original monocassette player which he has recently remixed and remastered. These truly evoke the authentic feeling of the Folk –Rock/ Singer Songwriter era, with influences ranging from Bob Dylan, Donavan, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen.  

The first of these albums is called Turning Back (1973), and contains original recordings made from 1973-1975. Monocassette tapes are notorious for degrading very easily but fortunately many recordings coud be rescued and restored to an acceptable quality.  

The music doesn’t stop there .........

I Walk On Air And Contemplate The Sun (2017) 

New songs are always being written and older songs re-recorded. PM has recently composed Ballad Of An Upright Man (2017) on piano, while other songs from the 1970s have been re-recorded and revamped, such as Dusty Road (1973), Aubergine (1973), Let It Come Easy (1975) and Island (1982) . These are all on a new EP (2017) called I Walk On Air And Contemplate The Sun, which includes a piano instrumental of tha same name. The phrase comes from ancient Greek play ‘Clouds’ by Aristophanes and is a quote he attributes to Socrates.  

All songs appear with the lyrics on the YouTube videos. Listen and enjoy!!