Future days festival: Matmos live at ALT

Matmos, Si Schroeder
Foggy Notions Future Days Festival, Andrews Lane Theatre

Si Schroeder have gradually moved along from their shambolic days as Schroders Cat to what has become a steady duplication of your favourite American indie sounds from 1994-96 distilled by living in Dublin. This is no bad thing but like many of the acts, that they seem to sometimes appropriate when the hit is good it presses the correct buttons, but when the hit misses the vein it attended to reach you can be left fumbling around for a more direct contact. Bright in many places, commendable.

For me though the night was only about Matmos. There has always been something of the chameleon about Matmos, with each record you anticipate what Matmos will present itself. And with each record they have always presented something entirely different. Tonights appearance was to throw out many different forms of Matmos.

With house lights dimmed three small laser lights appeared in the audience. Initially thinking this was a further continuation of the bizarre practice ALT appear to have of people constantly running back and forth from the stage with torches pushing the crowd out of the way (can anyone explain this?) I huffed that this was what was happening. However, within a couple of seconds I realised that it was actually Matmos using the lasers to play off thermins installed on the stage. They had not even faced their audience and already they had astounded them. As little lights turned into big noises, an Autchre-esque rumble groaned from the speakers. What a seemed like thousands of notes falling around until they all clambered together to make a sheet of a dark noise that occasionally loosened its limbs to reveal a one-two-stumble beat. Perfect.

Thereafter the set ebbed and flowed between experimental flourishes married to a backbone of locked inquisitive beats. All chimes, clanks, rhythms fusing into a hypnotic mass played under a backdrop of accompanying visuals. To look……to listen………the senses were kept happy. Impossible to select which was best, I’ve settled on two; ‘Supreme Balloon’, an elongated journey in a boffin’s playground and ‘Rainbow Flag’ which sounded like Stereolab after a day spent exploring a science museum.

So good it should have been recorded and put in an archive for future generations.

Matmos: Supreme Balloon

First things first. The new Matmos album is considered their ‘pop’ record. To their fans, maybe. To the rest of us, well, not quite. Matmos you see, typically produce high-concept avant garde electronica that draws on sampled found sounds, and these boys will sample anything. You name it and they’ve sampled it. The sound of ejaculated human semen? Been there. The tap of an underwater mollusc shell? Done that. The soft tear of a human flesh opening under a scalpel? Matmos have bought the t shirt. It is only in circumstances such as these you can produce something like Supreme Balloon and call it your ‘pop’ record. For Supreme Balloon has at its centre a fantastic whooshing 24 minute Krautrock odyssey called Supreme Balloon. Pop? Emm, well its not going to cause Louis Walshe any sleepless nights. The track in question is a real period piece and surely a homage to the likes of Phaedra by Tangerine Dream, such is the smell of unicorn mane off its extended wibbly synth rushes.

The rest of the album, like the title track, is recorded exclusively from vintage synthesisers of all ages, shapes and sizes. However, the shorter songs are far more contemporary sounding and playful than Supreme Balloon. Best of these is ‘polychords’ which isn’t a million miles from Boards of Canada’s ROYBGIV, and bounces along in an exuberant rubbery way. Actually, rubbery is a pretty good adjective for the rest of the album. The music stretches, snaps, bounces and ricochets all over the place. It’s a veritable explosion in a rubber toy factory. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you have a penchant for experimental instrumental music served with a side-dollop of mischief then Supreme Balloon is for you. Now spark up a sneaky bowl and turn up the title track. It’s time to imagine you’re flying your pet rainbow-coloured animated unicorn over the pyramids.

Matmos play the Andrew’s Lane Theatre as part of the Future Days festival on June 12th. They’ll be backed up by the excellent Si Schroeder.