The indie giant gears up for a big May
By MATT ASHARE | May 1, 2006
Matmos
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Mission of Burma’s new disc isn’t due for a couple of weeks, but Matador has been kind enough to provide an MP3 preview. And May is shaping up to big a big month for the label, with Mogwai headed our way on May 14 (they’ll play Avalon), and Matmos releasing a new disc this week. Oh, and don’t forget Pretty Girls Make Graves: we’ve already featured them here, but they be downstairs at the Middle East on May 11. Mogwai, “Folk Death 95” (mp3)
It took a few years, but on the new Mr. Beast, Scottish all-instrumental outfit Mogwai finally seem to have gotten the urge to experiment with electronics and remixing out of their system. Not that there was anything wrong with that, only that they’ve always been plenty experimental anyway. This track, with its tension-filled arpeggiated refrains and explosions of bone-crushing guitar/bass/drums power, is a welcome — and representative — return to form.
Matmos, “Roses and Teeth for Ludwig Wittgenstein” (mp3)
Electronic composition is the lifeblood of this SF duo (MC Schmidt + Drew Daniel), but on the forthcoming The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of the Beast, they make it fun by creating a series of “audio portraits” dedicated to some of their favorite people, with vocal help from Björk and a bunch of other people whose names I don’t recognize. Here, a shuffling electronic beat peppered with glitchy found sounds and the occasional burst of noise serves as a backdrop for a few words from the title philosopher; they’re spoken by what may be Björk or just a child who sounds like her.
Mission of Burma, “2wice” (mp3)
Matador is streaming this tune on its site, but at InSound you can actually download it. It’s classic Burma, which is a miracle of sorts when you consider how long they were out of business. Rambunctious drums, heavy bass, and slashing guitars collide in a glorious mess that keeps circling back on a hook in the vocals that sounds as pissed off as MOB ever were. Let’s just say that this band have perfect timing in more ways than one.
On the Web
Matador Records: http://www.matador.recs.com/
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