Description
A standout release from Matt Lundgren that shines with a discerning sensibility spanning Balearic, city pop, and trip-hop. A satisfying EP blending original tracks with masterful re-edits.
Magic Wand's "Special Editions" series is a popular imprint that offers a flexible range of content, from original tracks to re-edits. On this release, Matsoaka, aka Matt Lundgren, makes full use of his signature style.
The EP opens with "Butterflies (feat. Daniel Giglund)", a re-edit that transforms Hot Chocolate's "Emma" into a laid-back Balearic groove. Daniel Giglund's emotive vocals give the track a new dimension, guiding it into a dreamlike world while preserving the drama of the original.
The following tracks are centered around Balearic-leaning re-edits that skillfully reconstruct their source material. "Faith", based on Wally Warning's "Keep the Faith",unfolds into a pleasant, dreamlike soundscape, while "Gin Yuzu" features striking Fairlight sounds and electro elements reminiscent of mid-1980s Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Furthermore, "Sheriff" takes a unique approach to reconstructing a cover of "I Shot The Sheriff" by the Spanish pop group Objetivo Birmania. A fusion of a soft Balearic sensibility and obscure source material makes it even more rewarding with every listen.
This is a record that will resonate with a wide range of listeners across Balearic, downtempo, electro, pop, and more.
A1. Butterflies (feat Daniel Giglund)
A2. Faith
B1. Gin Yuzu
B2. Sheriff
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MWSE0017-A2
MWSE0017-B1
MWSE0017-B2
Unlike the main Magic Wand label, the imprint's offshoot 'Special Editions' series is a little more fluid about what it releases, with some EPs sporting original productions - many of which are admittedly sample-heavy - as well as re-edits. That's the case for this second missive from Matsoaka (real name Matt Lundgren). So, while the EP begins with a genuinely gorgeous and Balearic original cut (the dreamy and slow-motion folk-rock of 'Butterflies', featuring the emotive and harmonic vocals of Butterflies), much of the rest falls into the "Balearic re-arrangement" category. In this camp you'll find the immersive, trip-hop style dreaminess of 'Faith', the mid-80s Yellow Magic Orchestra-style Fairlight-sporting electro of 'Gin Yuzu', and the dollar bin brilliance of 'Sheriff' (a take on a Japanese city-pop cover of a reggae favourite).
