A couple of years ago when Zach Matthews won some money at the casino and spent it on some fresh new hats (’cause that’s the way he rolls), said hats inspired some tight beats and the rest, as they say, is history.
The ReIntroduction was recorded in Tim Santos’ Studio-T in Denver over a three-day period during the recent New Year holiday, but here in the ‘Boro you may recognize Matthews (a.k.a. z.matt.33), Santos and their partner in crime, Phil Buck, as the purveyors of Winslow Family Productions and from projects Winslow Family Band and The Go Show.
Fresh Hats Tight Beats takes the energy of those projects and expresses it with a more programmed and sample driven approach. Though The ReIntroduction cannot simply be labeled “electronic” music; elements of tribal drum beats, soulful, funky bass and other live instruments pair nicely with the looping and more computerized sounding aspects. Additionally, in contrast to many modern cut-and-paste-at-the-computer projects, the trio, along with other musicians affiliated with the Winslow Family, actually perform many of the passages sampled on the recording.
Try out the record as a way to wind down and sink into a trance after a long night out, or play in the background on a lazy rainy day. The lack of lyrics will make it pretty difficult for the sounds to get much mainstream success, though the group probably primarily intends to give music fans some groovy “tight beats” rather than aiming to be the next radio sensations.
At times, some of the beats can sound like the more tame Nine Inch Nails material, with the vocal tracks and crunching guitars removed. The tracks are generally pretty laid back and repetitive, but I’d imagine that’s exactly what the artists are going for, and the presentation as a whole with its smooth beats and subtle changes is what is featured rather than flashy instrumentation or hooks.
One of the most interesting parts of the recording is the sampling of a couple of men speaking in the first track, “Eternal Now.”
“Don’t try and identify the sounds we are hearing; don’t put names on them. Simply allow them to play with your eardrums,” says Dr. Alan Watts. This is one of the most eye-opening (OK, ear-opening) concepts I’ve heard in a while; as a listener, don’t simply label and define music with narrow terms like jazz, quarter note, reverb, C sharp minor seven, groove-stoner-metal-grind-core, etc.; just let the sound waves hit your ears and enjoy.
So remember, when listening to Fresh Hats Tight Beats, don’t attempt to label the sounds as “smooth and funky bass guitar line” or “computer-generated blip;” just let them hit you.
“Don’t judge the sounds.” How about that music critics?
