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LP
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MIA 051LP
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Zelienople frontman Matt Christensen returns to Miasmah with Constant Green -- a record of reverberant country inspired songs that puts the weight somewhere between Johnny Cash and Slowdive. Matt pours out his soul through flashes of life -- small and large. His voice roaming over the guitars in a way which feels like a floating poetic deluge. Appearing fresh from 2020's Zelienople album Hold You Up (MIA 047LP), Matt has made a very personal record that arrives as perfectly as it could be. It is full of beautiful sparse moments that capture the feeling of time standing still while simultaneously flashing in front of your eyes. As a child of the '70s, growing up with country influenced AM rock on the radio, riding around in cars without seatbelts, Matt creates this nostalgic feeling of free riding through the city streets at dusk: a dream world where one can see green as a symbol for humanity and optimism. Not to say the album doesn't have its share of darkness. Christensen always lingers deep in melancholy, driving his fears and anxieties out through music. Visions of being able to move anywhere, picking his mother up from jail, family matters, change, the small things in life -- all outtakes from what he sings about. Although it's hard to pick up on unless you really listen, as his ramblings can at one moment be fully clear while in the next drowned or muffled -- becoming a mere meditative element to the music. Steady collaborators Brian Harding and Eric Eleazer from Zelienople accompanies on pedal steel and keys to further fill the sound into a warm dream, following in the footsteps of Matt's previous Miasmah album Honeymoons (MIA 034CD/LP, 2016). That said, while Honeymoons used drum machines and vast open spaces, Constant Green is another step closer towards the classic singer-songwriter folklore. Timeless gold from an artist that never stops creating. Dark green vinyl; includes download code; edition of 300.
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CD
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MIA 034CD
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Matt Christensen, the singer and guitarist of atmospheric masterminds Zelienople, presents his solo album, Honeymoons. His most recent solo endeavor however embodies a song writer deeply involved with his own vision of sound, resulting in an accomplishment strong enough to stand on its own. Matt delivers a longing and emotional outreach through Honeymoons's six delicate songs and immersing into them provides a feeling of understanding and affiliation that turns solitude into a state of awareness and insight. The sparse instrumentation of broad guitar/effects and incisive drum machine adds immediacy to this recording and the airy arrangements keep the perfect balance between song structure, free-form playfulness and silence. Accompanied by Matt's echoing voice and personal lyrics, his recipe is being formed and dilated into an experience that requires devotion to be fully perceived and appreciated. "I'm See Through" may be the protagonist's self-perception but by guiding his compositions through foggy, pliant tone constellations he leaves us in doubt that Matt's output could ever be considered transparent. Honeymoons, his first album for Miasmah, is a perfect reminder of how interfering contradictions can make the most interesting installations. The confrontation of organic guitar movements, stirring poetry and patterns of beat arrangements create fascinating tension: Honeymoons's full scale won't unfold instantly but you will be captivated right away. The listener is allowed a deeply moving glance into a contemplative musician's mind by witnessing an outstanding statement for imparting the feeling of companionship. CD version comes in a digipak and is a limited edition of 500.
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LP
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MIA 034LP
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LP version. Includes download code. Limited edition of 500. Matt Christensen, the singer and guitarist of atmospheric masterminds Zelienople, presents his solo album, Honeymoons. His most recent solo endeavor however embodies a song writer deeply involved with his own vision of sound, resulting in an accomplishment strong enough to stand on its own. Matt delivers a longing and emotional outreach through Honeymoons's six delicate songs and immersing into them provides a feeling of understanding and affiliation that turns solitude into a state of awareness and insight. The sparse instrumentation of broad guitar/effects and incisive drum machine adds immediacy to this recording and the airy arrangements keep the perfect balance between song structure, free-form playfulness and silence. Accompanied by Matt's echoing voice and personal lyrics, his recipe is being formed and dilated into an experience that requires devotion to be fully perceived and appreciated. "I'm See Through" may be the protagonist's self-perception but by guiding his compositions through foggy, pliant tone constellations he leaves us in doubt that Matt's output could ever be considered transparent. Honeymoons, his first album for Miasmah, is a perfect reminder of how interfering contradictions can make the most interesting installations. The confrontation of organic guitar movements, stirring poetry and patterns of beat arrangements create fascinating tension: Honeymoons's full scale won't unfold instantly but you will be captivated right away. The listener is allowed a deeply moving glance into a contemplative musician's mind by witnessing an outstanding statement for imparting the feeling of companionship.
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