Syd Matters - Obstacles

by John Clarkson

published: 5 / 5 / 2005

Label: There's A Riot Going On
Format: 7"

Melancholic electronica, and the first release of the There's a Riot Goin' On label's new music sans frontieries initiative, from Syd Matters, the nom de plume for 23 year old Parisien Jonathan Morali

Review

'Obstacles' is the excellent debut UK single of Syd Matters, the nom de plume for 23 year old Parisien Jonathan Morali. It is also the first release of the There's a Riot Goin' On label's new music sans frontieries initiative, which aims to promote on 7" vinyl in Britain some of the best of new French music. The melancholic 'Obstacles' and 'Fear of Heights', its slightly more up-tempo B side, recall a more expansive Trembling Blue Stars with their mournfully catchy hooks, and nostalgic sense of longing for a better past. Banks of fizzling synthesisers are piled up against other synths which are more sorrowful in tone to create a gigantic sound. Morali, who sings in English, also proves himself to be a master of pretty, memorable phrase as well as of melody. "We would play hide and seek in waterfalls/We were younger/We were younger" he croons over and over about a lost love at the end of 'Obstacles', while on 'Fear of Heights' he tells the ex he is still hung up over "If you're in heaven, I'm in hell/So wave to me, wave to me." Syd Matters has been chosen as one of the principal acts to appear at the French Disconnection, a festival of French music, taking place in London in October 2005. His second album, Someday We Will Foresee Obstacles', from which 'Obstacles' and 'Fear of Heights' have both been taken, is due out in the UK on V2 later this year. Hopefully 'Obstacles' is only the start of great things in Britain for both Morali and the music sans frontieres initiative.