Matthew Dear - Black City (Ghostly International)

Matthew Dear's progression of mixing elements of pop and minimal techno has been going on since 2003. Appearing as tons of other pseudonyms and aliases, Dear created unique and dance floor-bound music on numerous remixes and LPs. On Dear's debut Leave Luck To Heaven Dear found himself creating addicting techno mixes that had the influence of pop music. On his follow-up Asa Breed, Dear took up the mic and crafted shorter, lyrical song structures. Now it's 2010 and Dear's though third LP Black City combines both elements of his previous LPs with an added theme of dark, desolate metropolis surrounded landscapes.

Dear's change of tone is immediate on the opener "Honey"; from the dark, smooth bass line that flows underneath Dear's deep and mellow voice. Dear's tunes are dancey from the get-go, but have a disturbing, wrath about them. From the compelling organ fills on "I Can't Feel" to the mix beats on "You Put a Smell On Me"; Dear's immerse "black city" is told through the grasps of the dark treacherous theme.

The elements of Black City take some time to mature on you. There are bizarre production elements throughout Dear's songs that are uncomfortable to sit through, especially the noises you hear on "Slowdance" that sound like someone sneezing. At times Black City is an abrasive and others it is smooth, but it it just that variety that makes Dear's musicianship an interesting one to delve into.

The nine minute electronic dance extravaganza "Little People (Black City)" delves into so many different elements into the tight nine minute structures. Starting out with a very traditional '80s Primal Scream dance sound transforms itself into an almost tribal song that transcends into the reaches of Dear's abrasive sound. The beat stays constant throughout the song, but the elements above the rhythms that change and transform into some mutated and ugly makes for a very interesting listen.

Dear's best moments are at his most simple and "pop" oriented. Songs like "Soil To Seed" and "Monkey" have a very traditional pop feel to them, but Dear's voice creates such a tense and invigorating experience. Dear's most powerful song of Black City falls at the end. "Gem" is a beautifully crafted piano ballad that has a very relaxing atmospheric quality and yet has Dear's jagged qualities.

Black City is one of the strongest electronic albums of 2010 along with the likes of Flying Lotus and LCD Soundsystem. The dark and tender themes that Dear explores are invigorating and tense. Dear's music is greatly crafted around immense detail and surroundings. This attention to details makes a beautifully frightening listen.

Overall: 8.4/10

Track Listing:

1. Honey - 9.0
2. I Can't Feel - 9.0
3. Little People (Black City) - 9.0
4. Slowdance - 7.0
5. Soil To Seed - 8.5
6. You Put a Smell On Me - 8.0
7. Shortwave - 8.0
8. Monkey - 8.5
9. More Surgery - 8.0
10. Gem - 9.5

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