Matt Elliott has rather an atypical course... He used
to work under the pseudo The Third Eye Foundation - emblematic
figure of the English electronic scene recognized for his
atypical electro tinted by drum' N bass. Since his first
album under his own name "The mess we made" (domino records),
Matt Elliott turns to compositions much more folk, forsaking
the laptop and the machines - which go until disappearing,
to return to more traditional instruments (guitar, piano,
violin...).
"Drinking song" puts an emphasis on distant voices and ethereal
ambiences. Guitars and keyboards are getting softer, almost
affectionate, sometimes overwhelmed by drum n' bass beats that
carry the song upward. Choirs and echoes give an almost mystical
dimension to the album. All the songs hold the audience spellbound.
To succeed to "Drinking songs", because it’s
really about songs, "Failing songs" turns Matt Elliott into
a true
songwriter. He assumes completely his voice and sings very
personal and dark texts (that we can find for the first time
inside the booklet.) Songs whose subtle melodies contrast
with the hardness of the words because "Failing songs" is
a hard failure report. Between despair and cold anger, the
texts talk about the liberal military evolution of the world
that the author rejects. The Titles are as sublime as melancholic,
bitter and sad, impressed by Slavic music, Greek, and besides,
sometimes punctuated of Spanish guitars (the guitar which
is from now the instrument of predilection, omnipresent although
often combined with the violoncello’s languor).
"Howling songs" is the magnificent third and last part to
the "songs trilogy". We are back to this slavonic
tune, without any definite frontier, whose only and constant
heritage finds its roots in European music. This is a very
haunted and personal piece of music which is the testimony
of a unique talent where moving melodies follow other moving
melodies balancing between ballad songs and folk music, madness
and reason, revolt and despair. "Howling songs" sympathises
with the surrounding world, it is a definitive observation
in which one can feel, throughout the songs, an outraged
sensitivity which is the signature of the artist. It is all
the more sensitive that Matt’s voice is sometimes present
without any chorus in the background, bringing to the whole
both confidence and unquestionable heat.
"Howling songs" is, without a doubt, the most introspective
album by Matt Elliott and the one which carries best his
musical personality.
And by the way, a new album by The Third Eye Foundation
is to be released in 2009 !
Complete Discography :
Matt Elliott
The Mess We Made (Domino) - 2003
Drinking Songs (Ici d'Ailleurs) - 2005
Failing Songs (Ici d'Ailleurs) - 2006
Third Eye Foundation
Semtex - (LSD)
- 1996
Ghost - (Domino) - 1997
You Guys Kill Me (Domino) - 1998
Little Lost Soul (Domino) - 2000
I Poopoo On Your Juju (Domino) - 2001
Oumupo 1 (Ici d'ailleurs) - 2004
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