New Music Initiative 076: Matt Elliott
May. 22nd, 2020 04:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bedsitter23One of the artists that I have watched closely over the last 15 years is Matt Elliott. Pushed to describe him, I would say he certainly falls in a category of Nick Cave and Tom Waits in dramatic music, though perhaps closer to the Tinderstsicks, Piano Magic, and others who dabble in baroque pop, as well as more esoteric fare like Swans and Current 93. The atmosphere of the music comes first, and lyrics second.
Of course, Elliott has been around longer than that. He was a member of Flying Saucer Attack on their first album, before making many records as the Third Eye Foundation. 3EF was active in the 90s, and I am not knowledgeable enough to speak on them, but Elliott's run in the 21st Century as a “solo” artist is worthwhile. His best starting spot is perhaps the albums that have a theme (04's Drinking Songs, 06's Failing Songs, and 08's Howling Songs). Plus somewhere in here, I want to work in that he has an album with the fantastic title “Only Myocardial Infarcation Can Break Your Heart” (2013).
2020's Farewell to All We Know may be his best. Coincidentally, it's hard to listen to without thinking of last year's Leonard Cohen album Thanks for the Dance. Smoky, husky vocals, Spanish guitar, cello and apocalyptic folk minimalism. Of course, Elliott has charted this course long ago. In any case, this appears to be worthwhile
Of course, Elliott has been around longer than that. He was a member of Flying Saucer Attack on their first album, before making many records as the Third Eye Foundation. 3EF was active in the 90s, and I am not knowledgeable enough to speak on them, but Elliott's run in the 21st Century as a “solo” artist is worthwhile. His best starting spot is perhaps the albums that have a theme (04's Drinking Songs, 06's Failing Songs, and 08's Howling Songs). Plus somewhere in here, I want to work in that he has an album with the fantastic title “Only Myocardial Infarcation Can Break Your Heart” (2013).
2020's Farewell to All We Know may be his best. Coincidentally, it's hard to listen to without thinking of last year's Leonard Cohen album Thanks for the Dance. Smoky, husky vocals, Spanish guitar, cello and apocalyptic folk minimalism. Of course, Elliott has charted this course long ago. In any case, this appears to be worthwhile
