Matthew Dear Live in LA, SF, NYC and SxSW; Previews Material Off Upcoming Beams Full Length With New Band Lineup

Stream the Headcage EP in full:

http://soundcloud.com/ghostly/sets/matthew-dear-headcage/

Watch Video teasers for “Headcage” and In The Middle (I Met You There)”

“In The Middle (I Met You There)”: http://vimeo.com/34797578

“Headcage”: <http://vimeo.com/33172690>

Matthew Dear’s Heacage EP (out now), stands as a testament to the New Yorker’s work as a relentless songwriter, producer and in a new light, collaborator. Working with other producers and vocalists as well as mixing/tracking at Nicolas Vernhes’ famed Rare Book Room studio has lent Headcage an openness and poise to the four songs presented here.

Our last look at Matthew Dear’s creative cycle was the fathoms-deep starkness of his 2010 album, Black City. A triumph of slowly imploding romanticism, Black City was ultimately just another step in Dear’s creative evolution from his breakthrough Asa Breed (2007) and his Detroit-meets-Berlin minimal techno of Leave Luck to Heaven (2003). The vision found in this EP is a likely harbinger for Dear’s full-length, Beams (coming in 2012).

“Headcage” leads with a dense, mutating cluster of breaths, whispers and assorted technicolor sounds until it coalesces into a hearty chug. The unabashed melodic thrust of the lead vocals by Jonny Pierce (of Brooklyn outfit The Drums) makes “In the Middle (I Met You There)” one of Dear’s most perfect—and unique—pop creations. The first duet in Dear’s decade-long career, the dopamine flies when Dear’s baritone kicks in. “Street Song” and “Around a Fountain” round out the EP, showcasing what’s to come. London-based director Morgan Beringer provides the visual component with two meticulously washed out videos.

Matthew and his band have confirmed shows in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles to premiere new material from Beams and the Headcage EP.

LIVE BAND DATES

02.22 Los Angeles, CA @ Center For The Arts Eagle Rock
02.24 San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop Festival
03.02 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
03.13 Austin, TX @ SxSW Festival
03.14 Austin, TX @ Club Deville (Ghostly International Showcase) ^
03.16 Austin, TX @ SxSW Festival
03.17 Austin, TX @ SxSW Festival 03.18 Austin, TX @ SxSW Festival

^ w/ Tycho, Choir of Young Believers, Com Truise, Mux Mool, Shigeto

LINKS

www.matthewdear.com
http://ghostly.com/releases/headcage
http://ghostly.com/artists/matthew-dear
http://www.facebook.com/matthewdear
www.vimeo.com/morganism