Delivering an emotively melodic range of dream-pop, post-punk, and shoegaze, MatAre succeeds again with his latest EP, Brevity. The four-track collection blends shoegaze textures with dream-pop sensibilities, using a Stingray bass and Fender Jaguar to craft its nostalgic ’80s and ’90s atmosphere. MatAre is the solo project of Atlanta-based artist Matthew Rousseau, who collaborated with drummer Glen Welman to anchor the release in a signature, driving percussive sound. The project has caught our ears with a multitude of quality releases over the past few years.
The EP’s title track opens with an emotive, jangling intrigue — quickly ascending from lush mystique into swelling touches of electricity, and then a caressing injection of distortion. The melding of crisp jangles and warming distortion conjures a ’90s alt-rock nostalgia, shades of Smashing Pumpkins, while Rousseau’s vocals envelop with dreamily enticing allure — reminiscent of Wild Nothing. Lyrical perspectives of fleeting time follow a catchy, brisk percussive flair, then enamoring with a post-punk bass prominence past the midpoint and into a fully satiating conclusion.
“When Alone” follows with a starry-eyed immersion, exuding a sense of anticipation “early on a Sunday morning” as hypnotic guitar twangs and pulsing bass intertwine beautifully. Effervescent synth tones prior to the two-minute mark are an especially magnetic aspect within the atmospheric production, blissfully memorable.
Coming next, “Do You Think They’ll Talk About Us?” is exemplary of MatAre’s dynamic tonal range — its bass-led “gonna find you” yearning expanding into soaring vocal flourishes and inviting guitar work, finding a lovely lane between dream-pop and shoegaze. EP finale “When The Sun Falls” is another delight, concluding the release with an infectious sense of momentum and “all of the places I go, and all of the people I know” lyrical contemplation. Abundant in great songwriting, Brevity is another fantastic output from MatAre.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
