Matta Gawa

Tambora

Label: New Atlantis Country: USA

"'Tambora,' the second album from Washington DC-based 'free rock' drums/guitar duo Matta Gawa. Matta Gawa's strength and cohesion as a duo belies their unconventional and experimental approach to music-making. Guitarist Ed Ricart uses a vast array of stompboxes to process, loop, and sculpt sound on the fly, while drummer Sam Lohman freely punctuates the music with his energetic work on the kit- adding heft, color, and texture. The dynamic, sprawling music on 'Tambora' stands as a fine demonstration of Matta Gawa's unique brand of spontaneous composition/improvisation. Uncompromising burners like the title track, 'Ephemerides' and 'Position' sit comfortably between sparse, textural pieces (like 'Vesta' and 'Sky'). The music was tracked by Jason LaFarge (Swans, Akron/Family, Devendra Banhart, Khanate) in his Seizure's Palace studios. New York City's Daniel Albrigo contributed outstanding artwork for the front cover. 'Tambora' documents the most recent stage in the lives of these two busy musicians. Sam Lohman was an original member of the great early New York Hardcore band Sheer Terror, and co-founded the Japan Overseas import record label. Recent projects include collaborations with Steve Mackay (of the Stooges) and the Acid Mothers Temple soul collective. Ed Ricart has worked with members of avant rockers Fugazi, Tortoise, and Bardo Pond, as well as free jazzers Marshall Allen (of the Sun Ra Arkestra), Steve Swell, Jason Ajemian, William Hooker, Calvin Weston, Roy Campbell, Peter Brotzmann, and more. Matta Gawa have toured the East Coast and Midwest extensively, including a two week stretch with legendary drummer William Hooker, and a six week North American tour in the fall of 2010. Their first album, 'Ba,' was released via Engine Studios (home to great records from Fred Anderson, Many Arms, Kidd Jordan, Warren Smith, and many more). Of 'Ba,' writer Clifford Allen noted "this is a deep, unruly recording devoid of New Weird-hipness, capturing the dangerous fragmentation of noise and psychedelic vibrations with a young, hungry energy and both musicians are individuals to keep an eye on." "-New Atlantis

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