Introducing ‘poor effort’, a project from Salford/Manchester-based musician and writer Matty Dagger…
The material is spiked with wry-realism, over sketched beats, wiry riffs and deadpan delivery. The PR says: “Perhaps think Yard Act with Benefits and a bit of Sleaford Mods… you get the picture.”
The hip-hop post-punk poet reveals latest single, “City Of Hope” out now, from the upcoming debut EP [six tracks] due in October this year on new label Home Taping which is in partnership with EMI North. “City of Hope” follows up from previous tracks “You’re Wrong, I’m Right (Symphony)” and “HMRC” in 2024.
Deadpan and undeadly serious, poor effort has been well-received as a prosaic barrage against total surrender to bleakness, inviting ‘if you know, you know’ relatable humour into a musical sphere of trippy beats, pencil-sketch guitars and machine percussion.
Mr Dagger, originally from a mill town 15 miles from Salford and Manchester, sets his scene over “City Of Hope’s” distorted, disorientating instrumental: “Where if you have a high rise you’ll be set in life/Living life up above the slums ‘n’ dives”.
Reflecting on metropolitan life on the track, Matty says: “Obviously a lot of people flock to cities to chase opportunities. Whether that’s careers, relationships, status, luxury or wealth, they become these concrete melting pots for hunger and for hope.
” ‘City Of Hope’ explores that, but also the irony of it too. How it takes place amongst this gentrified backdrop where the short end of the stick is dealt to some in order for others to thrive.
“On a personal level, it also taps into the appeal of moving closer to a city that holds a lot of cultural weight and more opportunities to pursue music. It might sound like I despise the place, I don’t.
“It’s an observation of the type of city which has been pretty good to me. Having moved here myself, I can’t help but see the hypocrisy in that, and maybe that’s the greatest irony of all.”
poor effort’s timely wordplay, growing imperfectly from the seeds of social disintegration and resistant aspiration, much like Benefits, Sleaford Mods and Kae Tempest, grew green shoots during lengthy lockdowns, putting self-learned production techniques and poetry to tape.
Dipping in and out of alternative hip-hop, post-punk and electronica, the self-taught box room producer, recording in view of skyscrapers by day and tangling with nocturnal employment after night falls, completed the poor effort EP in collaboration with producer Dean Glover, whose credits including Rootz Manuva and Anthony Szmierek, in vibrant outer-city suburb Cheetham Hill.
Matty Dagger and his rotating roll call of musicians performed as a live unit for the first time in spring 2024. Since performing at venues including Colours Hoxton, taste-making Manchester nights with Akoustik Anarkhy and Thump! plus poor effort’s own ‘Shandy And Crisps” showcase at The Eagle Inn, Salford.
- More live appearances and self-originated events are set to follow through the rest of 2025.
Photo by Jamie Soule
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