This weeks Bleep43 podcast features a live set by Matt O'Brien. The set was recorded at a Colony party at The Rhythm Factory in London on May 1st 2011 using a combination of Ableton & hardware.
Our new release got a great review in Resident Advisor from Philip Sherburne...
Matt O'Brien isn't a flashy producer. He's not even a particularly distinctive producer—at least, not in the sense of having a readily recognizable signature. It's a long way from the parched euphoria of "Serotone" to the head-over-heels tumble of "Into the Red," which sounds a little like The Knife covering Underground Resistance. But that absence of overt stylistic tics could also be called versatility, and he gets plenty of range out of his machine-centric approach—the closest thing to a hallmark you can find in his sound.
"Bloom" begins demurely, with crisp, skipping hi-hats and shakers over a muted, two-note sub bass. Thomas Melchior's desiccated funk will likely come to mind. The song's title is evident in soft pads that unfurl like morning glories—pretty, but also tough, they've got a way of digging in and holding on. O'Brien takes a risk with the breakdown, letting a single string tone fade out into nearly seven seconds of silence. (DJs beware.) But the payoff is worth it, with ethereal haze turning back into a trim, percussive refrain you can feel deep in your bones.
Where "Bloom" is airy, "Without Warning" is almost suffocating. You can feel the kick drum like a lump in your throat; murky chords, beating three against two, leave plenty of space around the beat but let in little light. When the filters open, all hell breaks loose, as minor-key riffs dial up memories of rave at its most white-knuckled. This will surely sound epic in a space like Berghain, but it never tips into bunker-techno cliché.
Our new release from Matt O'Brien is a doble A side single called 'Bloom / Without Warning'. Already receiving big support from Peter Van Hoesen, Norman Nodge, Marcel Fengler, Perc, Brendon Moeller, Len Faki, Laurent Garnier and more.
'without warning' is massive, thanks - Peter Van Hoesen (Time To Express)
Good stuff, I already played Without Warning at my last Berghain session – Norman Nodge (Ostgut / MDR)
Both tracks are dope. Without Warning is my fav!! - Marcel Fengler (Ostgut)
'Without Warning is a killer. rave stab techno heaven. 'full support' and all that nonsense.' - Perc (Perc Trax)
Fuck , this is sooooooo damn goooooooooood Full support on this dancefloor monster - Laurent Garnier
without warning is a monster!!! - Anthony Parasole (Deconstruct)
thanks for the link, dope release! both tracks has it's own charm. support! - Len Faki (Ostgut)
without warning should work for some early morning mayhem - Brendon Moeller / echologist (Steadfast)
'brilliant... and your bassdrums got THE punch! : ) my fav = 'without warning' – Remute (Remute / Curle)
Love it. - Shifted (Mote Evolver)
killer - John Selway (CSM)
thanks - Ivan Smagghe
"like always, super matt!!!! love it.... " - Alex Picone (Bass Culture / Cadenza)
'looking forward to check these out, off-key is not just a random :)' - Par Grindvik (Stockholm Ltd)
'Yo mate, Yeah defo feeling these!' - Jackmaster (Numbers / Fabric)
without warning is one of my favourite tracks of the year so far. will be playing this a lot. - Truss (Perc Trax / Stroboscopic Artefacts)
Love it! Both Tracks are special! - Dario Zenker (Ilian Tape / Vakant)
this EP is fucking killer – TVO (Broken20 / Highpoint Lowlife)
great!! love 'without warning' - awesome :) - Mark Henning (Trapez / Clink Music)
Very nice! “Bloom” has such beautiful keys, and the groove is nice and steppy. "Without Warning" is strong as well. - Philip Sherbourne (Resident Advisor)
amazing techno as usual. thanx! - D'Julz (Bass Culture / Circus Company)
'Both tracks are really cool. Without warning is dope !!! Raw as fuck... Looove it ! - Ozka (Mowar)
The a side is good for the early hours. The AA Side is monster!!! - Tobias Becker (Platzhirsch)
Liking this bit of big room carnage on the way for this methinks. - Paul Mac (Aw-Recordings / Pure Plastic)
Brutal. Specially into Without Warning. THX! - Xpansul (Truetype / Synewave)
fantastic stuff - always doing interesting things - Aiken (Semantica / Science)
I really love Bloom and will play it a lot for sure!!! - Yossi Amoyal (Susitech)
Really good tracks man!! - DJ Fader (Curle)
Excellent release. Bloom ist simply wonderful! - Alex Flitsch (Connaisseur)
Solid stuff, thanks for sending – Dave Martin (Technique)
I've got a busy start to the year with a new 3 track EP and limited edition live CD released through the Belgian label Curle Recordings.
The 'Starting Over EP' is a 3 tracker which is getting support from a wide variety of DJ's including Marcel Dettmann, Martyn, Richie Hawtin, Efdemin, Laurent Garnier, Santiago Salazar, Deetron, Tama Sumo, Perc, Dan Curtin and many more. It will be released on 31st January and is distributed by N.E.W.S.Together with this EP, Curle will also release the limited Curle-J01CD in Japan. A live set recorded by myself in London during December 2010 using Ableton Live, Akai APC40, Jomox XBase 999 and Moog Voyager. Only 100 copies were made and they will only be available through Disk Union in Japan, accompanied by some nice hand-numbered artwork. You can pre-order Curle-J01CD through this link, if you speak Japanese! Tracklist for the CD is as follows:
1. No Reason
2. koh Bida
3. Blackwood Freestyle
4. Starting Over
5. Hidden High
6. Untitled
7. The Gauntlet
8. Into The Red
9. End Of The Beginning
For a chance to win a copy of the CD, along with a Curle bag and Curle compilation, visit their website and enter the competition.
There's a new podcast from me up now on Little White Earbuds, featuring an hour long journey of off-key house & techno. There's also a quick interview with Richartd Brophy of Test Industries to go along with it.
The Dust Off Volume III is out on August 16th, featuring a dubbed house monster by Matt O'Brien & Audiostatic, an electro bomb by Minor Planets and some blissed out electronica from Kimble. Currently receiving support from Len Faki, Laurent Garnier, Don Williams, Arne Weinberg, Mark-Henning, Kevin Gorman, DJ MLZ, Santiago Salazar and more. This is a strictly limited vinyl only release!
Feedback...
Sepia has a great groove… and some slightly the parrish / moodyman touch - Arne Weinberg (AW-Recordings)
Sepia sounds dope! Respect! - Don Williams (artless / Mojuba / Wandering)
really nice collection. still my fav is the o´brien & audiostaic jam. really deep moving sound - Franklin De Costa (Curle)
minor planets track is a minor bomb ; ) - Kevin Gorman (Mikrowave)
Will play on my radio show. Thanks - Laurent Garnier
Sepia!! thats the cut for me, will track the vinyl and play it out for sure, timeless groove!! - DJ MLZ (Pendle Coven / Modern Love)
Many thanks, a very great deep ep! my fave on this is the kimble track, love the whole atmosphere! - Len Faki (Ostgut Ton / Figure)
Thanks! Will play 'Sepia' out. Love 'Constructor' too. Nice all-around EP._Santiago Salazar (historia y violencia)
great release.. all tracks are lush.. will play and chart it too :) - Mark Henning (Soma / Freude Am Tanzen)
i love the record.so i love the label.big stuff. - Dario Zenker (Vakant)
I love all three tracks and will buy the vinyl. It is good to know, that some guys keep the quality high in these times!!! - Tobias Becker (Platzhirsch)
nice one, really into Sepia and Constructor. cerebral & dark :-) Franco Cangelli (Mowar / Nowar)
Lovely stuff - will probably get most use out of Sepia but love the textures in the whole ep. - Dave Martin (Migrant)
cheers for this. Liked it much more than the last set of files. Especially the chilled first track. - Max Duley (Arcane / Arcart)
really good stuff and a more than welcome sign of individuality in these times... Andre Crom (Off Recordings)
Stellar deep grooves! - Dave Turov (CSM)
finally an interesting release!! like all tracks - Rossella (Cyclical Tracks)
Charted Sepia - Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks)
Ben Klock has charted the Schatrax remix of Dodaso by Matt O'Brien, released on Off-key next week. You can view the chart on Resident Advisor.
The next Off-key release is pressed up and ready for release. Featuring remixes by Schatrax, .xtrak, KiNK & The Subliminal Kid, it's gaining a lot of support from Ben Klock, Anthony Shakir, Efdemin, Darko Esser, Kevin Gorman, Matt John and many more (see full feedback below). The vinyl should be hitting the shops around mid-April.
Feedback...
Absolutely love Schatrax's remix and Kink's remix too. Also the Subliminal remix is nice. Full support. - Ben Klock (Ostgut)
The tracks are hot. I will play in my sets when i get the vinyl. Thanks. - Anthony Shake Shakir (Frictional)
Thanks a lot, I really like Schatrax and Kink´s remix. - Efdemin (Dial / Curle)
The tunes sound awesome! All mixes have something great going on, but the Schatrax & KiNK mix are 100% up my alley & i will probably end up playing these two A LOT!! ;-) - Darko Esser (Wolfskuil / Curle)
Really great release with some unique sounds, all the remixes are excellent. - John Selway (CSM)
Nice varied release, big up!!! - Kevin Gorman (Mikrowave)
Really like the schatrax rmx - Matt John (Perlon)
The xtrak remix is some badass evil funk! angry, tense machine music... love it! The schtrax and KiNK mixes are killer too - Adam Marshall (New Kanada)
The .xtrak remix is really good. Will chart n play. - Franklin DeCosta (Curle)
Nice ep - 2000 and one (100% Pure)
Great record! I really like the Schatrax and Subliminal Kid Rmxes - Dario Zenker (Vakant)
loving the .xtrak remix! nice funked stuff. also the KiNK remix is really cool stuff. full support :) Donk Boys (Dirtybird, Snatch!, Siteholder)
I love todd's mix..lives up to it's title !....v funky and deep...i will play 4 sure - Charles Webster (Defected)
Really nice! Schatrax and KiNK remixes are sweet! - Mark-Henning (soma / Frankie)
The schatrax remix is a beauty, like it a lot and i enjoy the jeff mills feel of the Kink remix. The subliminal kid remix is great too. great ep! - Franco Cangelli (Mowar)
That is a true connoisseur choice of remixers...big respect! Schatrax is my fav! - Alex Flitcsh (Connoisseur)
wow love the schatrax remix ! Great record! - Martin Henkel (Connoisseur)
Subliminal Kid remix is pure heaven and the Schatrax remix is so cool too - Lakuti ( Uzuri , Süd Electronic )
Nice one matt, Schatrax and Kink are my favs. Thanks! - Fader (Curle)
Very good remix from .xtrak - raw and funky as usual - Filq (Shanti records)
Todd's remix of this Matt O'Brien track is exactly what is needed on our dance floors today: Cool! - Eric Clark (Subcurrent)
My two favorites are the .xtrak Mix and the KiNK mix. Todd's remix is a tweaked out groove that never end. - Ulysses (Scatalogic)
Schatrax and xtrak are two of my faves and I love the differing results that they came up with. KiNK and Subliminal Kid's remixes are sounding sweet, too. Awesome package! - Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks)
Matt O'Brien - 'Into the Red' out now on Curle. Peter Van Hoesen & Donato Dozzy combine for a killer on the other side. Read what Little White Earbuds has to say about it.
Support from Fred P, Steffi, Raresh, Troy Pierce, Josh Wink, Ivan Smagghe, Zander VT, Dave Clarke, Laurent Garnier, Stewart Walker, Pär Grindvik and more...
You can listen to clips and buy from the following outlets...
An overhaul of the website has been long overdue so after months of using up trial versions of Photoshop, here it is. You'll find all the stuff from the old site but just laid out in a manner that makes everything easier to find, hopefully. We've also started using things like Twitter, Facebook and Soundcloud so now you can read our sporadic updates multiple times in several places.
This is just version one of the site and we'll hopefully be improving and adding to it over the coming months. Well, that's the plan anyway. If you find any bugs or stuff, or just want to big up our leet design skillz then you can hit us up on . laters...
We're having a party in London on March 26th featuring live sets from DJ Pete & sleeparchive that are exclusive to the UK. Matt O'Brien is also playing live alongside resident Stewart Lowman.
Advance tickets can be purchased from Resident Advisor.
