Matthew Dear

Matthew Dear is lyrically skilled, expressing the hidden angles of things, from his musings about love on 2007 LP Asa Breed to his depiction of distortion in the city on recent album Black City. New EP Slowdance features remixes of Black City songs "Slowdance," "Little People (Black City)" and "You Put A Smell On Me" by UK garage and house producer Todd Edwards, L.A.'s Photocall and other artists. Todd Edwards' remix of "Slowdance" is supremely fresh and danceable; he toys with Matthew's vocals audibly (switching between "Unlucky Soul" and "Unlock Your Soul"). Nicolas Jaar's remix of "You Put A Smell On Me" comes forth simply as creative electro, with its feel moving between warm and ominous. Photocall's remix of the same song shares shining synths, thumping drums and a clear, revealing story of the creepy one-night-stand being sung about. Sascha Dive takes things down a crunched-up, surreal lane on his version of "Little People (Black City)." New song "Innh Dahhh" radiates slow warmth, in the vein of Brian Eno's "Deep Blue Day," growing beauty through the underlying dubious vibe of the record.