poor effort: City Of Hope
(Home Taping)
DL/Streaming
Out Now
poor effort, aka Salford-based poet and musician Matty Dagger, after enjoying critical and broadcast attention for a run of singles over the last year reveals City Of Hope, the first single from the debut 6 track EP due in October.
Not only is this the new release from poor effort, it’s also the debut release on Home Taping, a brand new Manchester record label supported by EMI North.
City Of Hope is the first in a run of singles that show the way around the potholes and unlit alleyways of that same punctured vessel leading up the the aforementioned EP.
The earliest poor effort releases were well-received, gaining noteworthy praise. Namely, You’re Wrong, I’m Right (Symphony) and HMRC, both released in 2024, the artist reached out from under a cloud of digital civil war and unsuitable employment to wryly document (barely) living on a fractured island, the wry-realism, making their way over the imperfect terrain of sketched beats, wiry riffs and deadpan delivery.
Speaking about the track, Dagger 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” He continues, “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 pupation from outline concept to tangibility was hastened by Dagger and his rotating roll call of musicians performing 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 appearances and self-originated events are set to follow through the rest of 2025.
Connect with poor effort via their Linktree
Photo used with permission of Jamie Soule and Perspective PR
All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him on Bluesky
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