American percussionist / composer Matt Weston obviously doesn't subscribe to the theory that his music needs to follow conventional forms. The music he records under his own name is difficult to categorize, but after listening to his latest collection of music, the three song EP Seasick Blackout, I think it would be safe to say his compositions contain a hearty and complex amalgamation of many different styles, that when blended together fall firmly into the avant-garde genre.
Seasick Blackout is a wild sounding, seventeen minute orchestral work composed and performed entirely by Weston himself. Don't expect your standard drum work or any straight ahead percussive rhythms because the music presented here is more akin to the type of metallic hammering and clanging one would find in an old shipyard. Perhaps that was Weston's intention when putting this together as these densely layered songs feature large amounts of said metallic percussion, combined with an equally as generous amount of textured and sometimes abrasive sounding electronic treatments. Either way it's not an easy listen.
I'll be honest and say that Seasick Blackout will demand quite a bit from the listener, and depending on your point of view these compositions will either be perceived as brilliant stabs at music concrète or just seventeen minutes of cacophonous noise. I'm pretty certain this disc is either going to be one of those 'you either love it or hate it' kind of listening experiences for most people, although there may be some listeners who like myself might find themselves sitting on the middle of the fence after all is said and done. I can certainly appreciate the overall avant-garde feel of Seasick Blackout and what he's doing musically on this three song sonic collage, and yet at the same time I wasn't entirely convinced that this is a disc that I'll need to return to on a regular basis. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Seasick Blackout is a bit of a head scratcher in the end.
Track Listing
1) You're Not That's Right
2) I Just Saw Fog And Dust
3) This October, All Octobers
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