Matt Bartram - Left to Memory

by Anthony Strutt

published: 12 / 12 / 2009

Label: Driftingfalling
Format: CD

Fantastic second solo album from Brighton-based post rock act Air Formation's front man, Matt Bartram

Review

'Left to Memory' is the second solo album from Matt Bartram, the front man with Brighton post rock act Air Formation. It starts off very loud with 'October Song'. It is a full-on Nu-gaze number while Matt's vocals are trippy and multi-layered. 'Keep behind the Light' has a pace like the Jesus and Mary Chain's 'Just like Honey', while the vocal is similar to that of the brothers Reid too. 'The Difference Day Makes' is again Jesus and Mary Chain-influenced and featurwes jangly guitars and moody keyboards. 'Visions Pt 1' is very soft and gentle with picked guitar lines, while 'Pylon' is back to being noisy and loud, but with restrained beauty, and a hushed vocal from Matt. 'Twelve String Loop' is the only co-write on the album and is written with and also performed with Christian Savill, the former guitarist with Slowdive. It is the loudest track here and as as raw as anything on Iggy and the Stooges' 'Raw Power'. With a shaken tambourine assisting it, there is no vocal at all and it is just fuzzed-up guitar beauty. 'Shadows' is lush, heavy on the Jesus and Mary Chain vibe and is heavy on the feedback. 'Another Wave' has a My Bloody Valentine feel to it, while 'Visions Pt2' is slow and reflective. '3 a.m.' sounds exactly as its title suggests like a song for late nights and early mornings mornings and is sad and reflective. 'Cycles', which rounds off the album, is lovely and warm, It has you drifting and puts you into a relaxed mood. It takes you somewhere else, but it is also very loud and powerful. A great album.

Track Listing:-

1 October Song
2 Keep Behind the Light
3 The Difference Day Makes
4 Visions Pt 1
5 Pylon
6 Twelve String Loop
7 Shadows
8 Another Wave
9 Visions Pt 2
10 3am
11 Cycles