by: Sun-J
Minimal techno or Microhouse is what they are calling it these days. Sort of a mesh between jungle and house. Techno "Nsync" with the eclectic, "dirty pop" of today. The music is much simplified then its ancestral genre, yet the fused sounds alienate droning reverbs, and pointless breakdowns. Detroit based DJ/producer extraordinaire, Matthew Dear has finally composed a scheme of sounds which manifest surreal ambiance. After owning the techno scene in 2003 with two EP releases on his debut dropping label, Spectral (an extension of Ann Arbor's Ghostly International), a twelve inch under the alias Jabberjaw for Perlon Records, and some tracks as False for Richie Hawtin's Plus 8 imprint, it's appropriate Dear has finally mustered the backing to release a full length. Dear takes the album back to the beginning of techno as he seems to revisit his favorite Nintendo games. From Mike Tyson's Knockout, to Super Mario Bros, Dear's basslines vaguely ring bells of somber deja vu so to speak.
The lead single, "Dog Days," is an ethereal clash of 80's funk and suburban pop. The chunky basslines are superimposed on one another to produce constructive interference of sine waves which amplify the multitude of sonic beyond saturation. The synthetic horns crown the wry-humored lyrics, "Tell another story to your body so it makes sense to me." The synthesized pulsating bass of "Reason and Responsibility," creates a lush palette of acid tones. "Just Us Now," opens up with basslines which seem to circle around the first line, engulfing it like dead vultures cascading around prey, "when will you come clean with all the lies you are telling me..." "In Unbending," has Dear chopping up his own vocals, while "But for You," verges on the risque, "Little
Girl on the corner sucking thumb, man and woman contemplating love."
Matthew Dear's passion is gorged into every track on this record. His sounds are scented with nervous rhythm shifts and his pensive lyricism is drenched in thick metaphors. Matthew Dear is comparable to Ricardo Villalobos in sound and style, though any fan ranging from techno to hip hop would wisely check this release.
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