New elegant IDM from: Mattr – Llam

Here’s a fine new single from Mattr ahead of his new album out in the Spring – though the bureaucrat in me would point out that spring can last until June.

If you need reminding, Mattr is Matthew Clugston, originally from Birmingham but now resident in London. His work is electronic and mainly IDM but he’s also more working in visuals. All this makes the parallels with Max Cooper harder to resist.

The new single is Llam. I’ve no idea why. It could be the Spanish for called but more likely a reference to a Staffordshire village in the Peak District. Musically, if this is typical of the new album we’re in for a real treat.

Llam is just lovely. It opens with some squinted electronics and some awkward beats before soaring heavenward. The synths are uplifting but without the need to drift into the dreaded ethereal vogue.

Keyboards have an escalating pulsating sound. It’s both stellar and liquid simultaneously. But it doesn’t forget it’s IDM roots as clatter and machine sounds constantly try in vain to bring it down to earth. A wonderful use of dichotomy all the way through.

Utterly, utterly fabulous. How all IDM should be.

~ by acidted on March 8, 2024.