Cover Story from The Valley Advocate October 2010

Preview Magazine Article


Press for The Suitcase Junket's Debut Album Sever and Lift

“Remember the first day you heard The Suitcase Junket on the radio.” “...his song writing is extraordinary.” 
“This is one of the most exciting records I’ve heard in years.”
 - Vin Scelsa's "Idiot's Delight", Sirius-XM, WFUV

"Sever and Lift begins with a sort of triumphant strangeness cobbled together by flailing acoustic guitar, clanging percussion and vocal (?) tones that land somewhere between Tuvaan-style throat singing, a sitar and a whistle. However that happened, it's very cool, especially considering the album was recorded live and without overdubs, according to the liner notes. As if that weren't enough, there's only one musician credited with making all these live sounds: Matt Lorenz. He appears to be making all that noise with a suitcase, a high hat, a gas can, a guitar and voice. Lorenz' songs offer strongly sung, compelling melodies, a continual sense of imminent collapse, and a talented use of every end of the limited sonic spectrum available to a solo performer. He even employs an often under-utilized tool—silence—to arrange his strange-attractor music. This is a grandly executed, highly individual effort from start to finish. —James Heflin -The Valley Advocate--------