MATT ROBIDOUX “Brief Candies” is at first a confusing listen, as it oscillates between several seemingly unrelated strategies but as the cassette spins on, the listener begins to gain an understanding of the nuanced and complex compositional worlds that Robidoux and his band are constructing across “Brief Candies”. Shifting between reed-based post-folk ballads, what can almost at times be described as minimalist-americana, Robidoux connects the compositional and sonic dots to highly enjoyable effects. The humming, morose minimalism of tracks such as “Little Wall” harkin to early A Silver Mount Zion with it’s lush strings planted atop morose and distant drones.
Lush string and piano arrangements compliment the minimalist background events which give these recordings sort of a timeless aura. Without the press release, one can’t quite place the date and context for these recordings, which personally makes them that much more exciting.
The tension and breath of the dynamic between the different voices really brings these recordings to another level for me, at times, hitting on a Merideth Monk “Turtle Dreams” vibe, which we all universally understand as a masterwork in minimalism, correct? Horns beckon an ancient message which can not be decoded, without being slowly and subtly submerged into the crashing waves of an unknown loss, a subtle but omnipresent uneasiness in the background keeps you relaxed, warm, but slightly on edge, like the perfect rainy Sunday cassette. The B side offers a more high energy, Kraut-fueled ripper which kicks things up but still keeps the morose and experimental vibe rolling. Highly recommended.
SKY paints a blissful portrait of an unknown place where the next step is to be taken, the only thing that’s certain in uncertainty. The B side is a little more driving with a ear forward bass and drum rhythm that escalates the pacing and tension from the soft and intricate spells cast by the first side. Closer to tara Cross or a chopped and screwed TuxedoMoon the big percussion and thudding bass create a nice, angular tension for the voice and delicate droning synths to skate off lightly but boldly into the distance, a truly beautiful and nuanced listen.
D E C A Y C A S T Magazine 