They say all that glitters isn’t gold. Vancouver singer, songwriter and musician Matthew Walko begs to differ.

Mingling together the succulence of sixties soul, surf pop and retro rock ‘n’ roll, his music is the stuff sandy beaches, Wayfarers and shiny ‘64 Mustang convertibles are made of, yet with a decidedly modern sparkle. And nowhere is this inspired sound more evident than on his freshly pressed EP, Glitter ‘n’ Gold.

Recorded at Coquitlam’s TapeStudio and co-produced with Ryan Worsley (Maplewood Lane, Dawntreader, The Pale), the four-song release was made in a matter of weeks—just like the old ’45s—and oozes cheeky beats and suave melodies. The title track is a horn-infused, irreverent rockabilly riff on bank robbery. Marrying new school electronic and old school beach bop, “He Said, She Said (Techno Superstar)” tells a tight lyrical tale of one musician hoping to make it big. The unabashed love song of the bunch, “Now That I Found You” channels early crooners and sets the stage for the closing track, “Bonnie & Clyde,” a cello-tinged ballad on sun-setting love. Buffed and ready for a ride with the top down, Glitter ‘n’ Gold is summer personified.

No stranger to the music scene, 23-year-old Matthew Walko already has eight years of writing and performing under his vintage leather belt. His last contribution was the well-received album Behave, recorded with his former band, Edmund. Named one of the Top 5 Bands in BC by The Province in 2007, Edmund played to capacity crowds at local indie music haunts The Backstage Lounge, The Railway, The Roxy and The Media Club. Here Walko honed his craft and irresistibly charming stage presence, bringing him to where he is today; a savvy young talent with a bright ‘n’ shiny future.

Not one to rest on his laurels or his Beatle boots, Walko plans to release another EP this fall. Not unlike the sixties icons that inspire him, the next record will be just as short ‘n’ sassy as the first, continuing to tantalize music lovers with sharp, swinging singles that reference the past, but boldly rock the present.

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