Moon & Back Music » Matt Fearon

Interview :: Monster! Monster!

Matt Fearon — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:38:40 +0000

After a whirlwind of a 2009, including launching stonking sales on iTunes, remixing for other artists and even being featured on a Japanese clothing ad, Rob of Monster! Monster! took the time out to reflect on what’s been and what is soon to be in the new year with Moon & Back Music.

MF: Hi Robin, how you doing?

MM: I’m great thanks, but rather busy at the moment with uni!

MF: What have you been up to recently?

MM: The past two months I’ve been focusing on producing, writing loads of new tunes and doing remixes for people. It’s been pretty hectic to say the least, but really rewarding!

MF: What has your highlight of the year been so far?

MM: There have been so many amazing moments of 2009. The highlights have been completing my first tour at the end of the summer and putting out my first single on iTunes. It’s gone so fast!

MF: You can grab your stuff on iTunes now. Have you had a good reception from that?

MM: It’s been great! I put the single out in early September and it sold like hotcakes. I was overjoyed at the reception I got!

MF: Can we expect a full length from Monster! Monster!?

MM: I’m looking to produce some full releases in 2010, but I can’t say when just yet! Let’s just say that there’s going to be an awful lot of bass, a lot of genre mashups and a fair bit of Gameboy!

MF: You recently featured in a Japanese clothing ad. Can we expect to hear you anywhere else soon? Maybe the next Pacman game?!

MM: The Killer Tunes 916 clothing ad came about earlier in the year, I was flattered to be chosen by them. I’m writing the music to an animation at the moment actually, which is a bit different to say the least! It’s a new challenge and I’m really enjoying it!

MF: What are your biggest influences? Are you one of those artists who completely shocks everyone by saying your biggest influence is mathcore metal or something?

MM: I’m one of those people who listens to loads of different music. At the moment I’m really into dubstep, I love the vibes and I think it’s a very fun genre when it’s done right! But I think the way I write music is definitely influenced by playing the guitar! I’ve been in all sorts of bands over the years: metalcore, power metal and all sorts. I was also really into guitar virtuoso stuff like Steve Vai. I still play guitar a bit, but it’s toned down now. Usually I just jam some acoustic stuff!

MF: If you could work with anyone musically, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

MM: I have no idea [laughs]. There are so many fantastic musicians I’ve grown up listening to. If I had to choose someone contemporary, I’d probably go with Frankmusik. I love his tunes!

MF: What’s the weirdest thing that has happened to you as Monster! Monster! so far?

MM: I think the weirdest thing for me is that fact that it seems to be going quite well haha. I’ve been in a lot of bands before and they never went anywhere. But so far this year I’ve done a tour, been on BBC introducing’s Friday Session and put out a single on iTunes. It seems wholly surreal to me!

MF: Where do you see yourself this time next year? What does 2010 have in store?

MM: I hope 2010 is a good year! I would love to tour more, play some festivals and release some more music. Unfortunately I finish university in 2010, so it might be a struggle for a while haha, but I’m sure I’ll manage!

- Matt Fearon

Monster! Monster! Myspace

Indie band The Rakes split…

Matt Fearon — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:54 +0000

After 7 years of fronting the art-indie-fred-perry-rock music scene, The Rakes have called it a day. Frontman Alan posted on the band’s website “…genuinely, thanks for the good times…. That was one hell of a party! But now, we really must get some sleep.”
I for one as a fan of the band’s skinny indie numbers am distraught to see them go.

In celebration of their career, here’s the video for indie club room hit We Danced Together…

Matt Fearon

Advance CD Album Review :: Sukilove – Static Moves

Matt Fearon — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:14:09 +0000

After learning that frontman Pascal Deweze of Belgian band Sukilove had described this record as “homo erotic rock without the glitter”, it was obvious that this album wasn’t going to be run of the mill to say the least. With a reputation as one of Belgium’s most interesting and daring bands, ‘Static Moves’ really does show that they are forever trying to push boundaries and defy genre labelling with every effort.

Opening track ‘New Beginning’ eases you in relatively well, although an odd choice to begin the album with, and only subtly foreshadows the outright weirdness that the rest of the songs are about to throw at you. What it does share is the raw atmosphere that this entire record gives off. Being the fourth album for the band, it is however only the first to be recorded at Deweze’s home studio – and yet with no strict schedule, Sukilove still recorded the entire album live. This is definitely reflected in ’4am’, brilliantly atmospheric with tinkering electronica, ‘Greenwood’-esque guitar and Deweze’s vocal delivery adopting a Thom Yorke slur, it’s difficult to believe this isn’t a Radiohead track.

‘Rebel’ is literally what is done in this track, starting with gentle chords, it then bursts into a fast paced, heavy riff that franticly works round the delivery of an equally unsteady vocal melody. Clocking in at just shy of three minutes, this song knows it’s place, and is a highlight of the album as a short chunk of satisfying, aural angst. After enduring the oddly titled ‘Teeth Fitness’, which tops two minutes of eerie water noise, comes the single ‘Choose Your Gods’. This is arguably the most contemporary effort on ‘Static Moves’, given the choice to release it in some hope of commercial recognition. The almost tribal main riff and jagged guitar solo still spark that unsettling feeling in the listeners stomach, however it compliments the accessible backing well and works on a level that you won’t find elsewhere.

As far as bizarre goes, ‘Memory As A Skull’ pulls out all the stops. Beginning with whispering of the lyrics panned to the far left and right of the mix, this is something you wouldn’t want to listen to through earphones in the dark. The dissonance of the chords as well as a slightly psychotic sounding refrain of the word “memory” render this song as far away from easy listening as possible, and is just outright odd. This said, it is so interesting that it does hold attention, particularly the er… “throat clearing” vocal solo.

‘Fear’ is definitely a highlight of the album. The drum pattern and grinding bass line sound fantastic, as well as haunting guitar riffs that are strangely likened to a gothic Arctic Monkeys sound. As the track builds up, Deweze’s confidence in his vocals follows suit, and he leaves behind the monotonous slurs for a ferocious rasp that culminates in the screaming of “we’re all just meat; waiting to die”. This is the kind of thing that Sukilove need to make more of, a whole album of this would really be something to look forward to.

Sometimes ‘Static Moves’ does sound like it’s obscure just for the sake of being obscure, and it takes a lot of patience to eventually ‘get’ – easy listening this is not. Rest assured, there are some great moments here, the fury of ‘Fear’ and the infectious ‘Choose Your Gods’ are definitely worth more than just a listen. Let’s hope that the future of this band holds such similarities. – Matt Fearon

Sukilove – Static Moves
Released on CD, download & limited edition clear vinyl on 2nd November 2009.
Sukilove Website