So Percussion & Matmos: Treasure State (Cantaloupe, 7/13/10)
So Percussion & Matmos: “Needles”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/So_Percussion_and_Matmos_Needles.mp3|titles=So Percussion & Matmos: “Needles”]Experimental electronic duo Matmos is a noted contemporary practitioner of musique concrète, a cut-and-paste art form that channels existing sounds into new and surprising pieces. And despite delving into what seems like a juxtaposition to electronic music, Matmos uses Treasure State to team with So Percussion, a Brooklyn quartet that brings to life the works of contemporary composers like David Lang, Iannis Xenakis, and John Cage.
On Treasure State, physical objects — ceramics and metal — are explored, and acoustic instruments play a substantial role on a number of tracks. The pairing sounds natural, and it’s surprising that it didn’t happen sooner.