by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Matt Robidoux has made lots of incredible albums with lots of incredible projects. The key is knowing about all of them, so keep tabs. There was Graph (one of the best bands I’ve ever known), Pony Bones, his contribution to the early days of Speedy Ortiz, and his never ending streak of experimental solo releases and various collaborations that focus on adaptive instrumentation. Over the years he’s gone to study avant-garde composition at the graduate level, and his output has in return remained consistently interesting. We last shared the Cracker Cuts record back in 2017, but Robidoux has since released the discordant string quartet assisted “Irish Need Not Apply” and a collaborative album with YlangYlang under the name Isness. He stays busy and no two records of his sound alike.
Set to release his latest album, Brief Candles, on February 20th via \\NULL|ZØNE// (Flesh Narc, Frank Hurricane), Robidoux is once again creating without rules or restrictions. The record shifts shapes as it pleases, with everything falling in and out of place as constructed (and deconstructed). Lead single “Little Wall” finds Robidoux joined once more by Isness partner YlangYlang, offering a warped and utterly infectious reimagining of popular music. The rhythm is slow and bass heavy, hitting somewhere between trip-hop and trap beats at half speed, but pieces are picked and pulled, scattered and shifted like an impressionistic painting. Robidoux and YlangYlang sing in close harmonies as the music stops and starts, their voices are tied together to composition’s alien path.
The video, filmed by Dana Hemenway, Vincent Ferrari, and Wren Kitz, captures the duo (as well as alto saxophonist Jake Parker Scott) sort of just vibing to the music… and there’s plenty to vibe along with. Robidoux shows off some impressive dance moves and the entire thing is sure to brighten your day.