On the far side of New Weird America Matt Valentine (MV) has cultivated a reputation for eccentricity with his highly idiosyncratic blend of acoustic folk ragas and random psychedelics. Whether it be solo, alongside partner Erika Elder (EE) or as founder member of the New York based Tower Recordings his music tends to confound as many as it astounds.
His output is prodigious but as most of his previous releases on his own Child Of Microtones label are limited to just 99 copies, even the most dedicated collectors are wont to hold up their hands in surrender. Within this context this release on Ecstatic Peace Records practically amounts to a sell out! The label was set up by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore in 1981 and now benefits from a distribution deal with Universal. You may even be lucky enough to find this cd in a high street record shop!
Fans and newbies should be reassured (or forewarned) that, while this is surely MV & EE's most accessible release to date it makes very few concessions to mainstream taste. Personally, I've given up trying to work out what makes someone like MV tick and am happy enough to be taken along for a ride and to expect the unexpected.
On 'Green Blues' it's a 7 track 60 minute trip where Valentine's wandering acoustics largely make way for bluesy metal riffs. Aside from electric guitar, the harmonica (played by the impressively named Mo' Jiggs) is the other most dominant instrument. The rough-edged sonic mix and MV's wavering falsetto puts me in mind of Neil Young at his grungiest. The Bummer Road band might easily pass for the ragged glory of Crazy Horse on acid.
On the opening track, the whole crew are to be found on the East Mountain Road listening to rock'n'roll on the radio and......they're feeling pretty damn fine, thank you. There's a great driving clap hands beat and MV is telling us how good it is to feel free (that's F-R double E) - hell, this could almost be a chart bound sound. Then again, maybe not - those vocals sound a bit too freaky and if these guys get pulled over by the cops they have some explaining to do. On a later track - Grassthighs - MV confesses "I inhaled a vortex last night" - make of that what you will, officer!
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Erika Elder shares the vocals throughout the album. Her sleepy take on 'Mine All Troubled Blues' is especially fine. In this song she seems undecided as to whether she wants rid of her man because he 'treats me so mean' or if he should hurry home. Such paradoxes are all grist to the mill in the MV/EE household.
What I love about this album is the sense that the loose, layering of styles could take you just about anywhere. Whatever road we're on here it's definitely not straight. Melodic sections morph into psychedelic drones and by the time we arrive at Solar Hill - the sprawling 18 minute closing track - any lip service that's been paid to the notion of definable structure has long been ditched.
As long you're prepared to set your controls for a destination anywhere head trip there's plenty to love. You don't need a ticket for this ride - you certainly don't need a road map. Just get on board and go with the flow.
http://www.ecstaticpeace.com/mvblast.html
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