Matthew Dear - Body Language Vol. 7

Albums

Techno, like country, continues to face a bad rap, with casual music fans consolidating the genre and dismissing its musicians at face value. It was a surprise then, to witness the emergent crossover of minimalist techno hero Matthew

Dear. After years spent producing finely tuned, aesthetically harmonious and unusually challenging records and singles under his own name as well as under various pseudonyms such as Jabberjaw and False, Dear released his third solo album under his own name, entitled Asa Breed, to critical fanfare. For his latest release, the seventh compilation in the Body Language series, Dear went back to his roots and created a mix that will appeal to hardcore fans of Ghostly International while possibly introducing newer fans to lesser known musicians.

Dinamoe’s “The Green French One,” kicks off the mix and is marked by its simplicity, bringing minimalism to its sleekest interpretations as one of the only tracks without constant vocals. Dear’s mix of Kalabrese’s “City Blues” is exquisite. The hauntingly quiet song features a bass that is deep, yet not imposing. The vocals are drenched in a sense of yearning and are complimented by the beat that is decidedly addictive in its effortlessness. It’s the sort of sound that sticks with you almost immediately.

From there, the album transitions from Kalabrese’s avant pop to a sleek selection of minimalist tracks, profound in their indispensable 4/4 rhythm that makes the record work as one tireless dance floor anthem. The upbeat synths transition to deep, tribal-like sounds, evident in tracks like Two Armadillos' “Hamlin (Sascha Dive’s Secret Dub),” or “Doctor of Romance” by Seth Troxier and Patrick Russell. As a whole, the album works by showcasing Dear’s ear for evocative minimalist tracks to fans that understand the complexities of techno music. Every new fan of Dear’s last solo album will not be turned on to the music, but a sizable portion will easily appreciate the splendor in the mix.

Label: 10-24-08
Release Date: Physical