While Matthewdavid's (a.k.a. Matthew McQueen) 2011 Brainfeeder debut, Outmind, was an exercise in some of the most abstract sounds to come out of the Los Angeles beat-maker scene, it often did so at the expense of cohesion. Sophomore effort In My World is an entirely different and ultimately more digestible listen, as it jettisons its predecessor's more experimental tendencies in favour of psychedelic, neo-soul-pop filtered through Brainfeeder's expected eccentricity.
The title track begins with some quick scratches before melting into woozy, smooth soul and blending into the seductive "Cosmic Caller," which blends the sheen of the Stylistics' unheralded early 1980s Streetwise recordings period with an otherworldly sci-fi vibe. The early-mid 1980s era of pop-funk is a major point of reference here, manifested most apparently in a cover of the Mary Jane Girls' 1983 classic "All Night Long." The tune, re-titled "Perpetual Moon Moods," mutates the sexy confection of the Rick James-penned and -produced original into a crawling, narcotic paean to lust with Matthewdavid proving a more than able cosmic soul crooner. Elsewhere, "Next To You Always" and "The Mood Is Right" are fine examples of his melodic beat-work that don't sacrifice any of the low-end. Overall, In My World is a first-rate sophomore effort.
(Brainfeeder)The title track begins with some quick scratches before melting into woozy, smooth soul and blending into the seductive "Cosmic Caller," which blends the sheen of the Stylistics' unheralded early 1980s Streetwise recordings period with an otherworldly sci-fi vibe. The early-mid 1980s era of pop-funk is a major point of reference here, manifested most apparently in a cover of the Mary Jane Girls' 1983 classic "All Night Long." The tune, re-titled "Perpetual Moon Moods," mutates the sexy confection of the Rick James-penned and -produced original into a crawling, narcotic paean to lust with Matthewdavid proving a more than able cosmic soul crooner. Elsewhere, "Next To You Always" and "The Mood Is Right" are fine examples of his melodic beat-work that don't sacrifice any of the low-end. Overall, In My World is a first-rate sophomore effort.