Paul Matthis

Boyz Noize – OiOiOi

Paul — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:11:56 +0000

German producer Alex Ridha a.k.a. Boyz Noize has made his first album available for free streaming!

BOYS NOIZE – OiOiOi by Boys Noize

Brand New Pretty Lights

Paul — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:05:28 +0000

Such relevant music for the times. Love everything this guy puts out.

Praise for The Next Step is to Go Back

Paul — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:11:23 +0000

Simi Valley-based choreographer Beth Megill wrote a reaction to some of her favorite pieces from the recent Pasadena Dance Festival, including praise for my current most successful dance work The Next Step is to Go Back.

Soloist Lindsey Lollie performed a captivating piece set to spoken word by Paul Matthis. The Next Step is To Go Back was an experiment in the physics of the body that was engaging and at times confounding to watch. Lollie performed her work with remarkable ease and control. Utilizing the most contemporary release techniques with a fluency I really admire. Her opening inversion and subtle head movements set up her physical strength and agility that did not wane throughout the piece.

The film based on this dance was just screened in San Diego. The wife of the department head, Pamela, pulled me aside and let me know how deeply it moved her. She was a dancer in her youth and said it gave her chills. It was a very touching testimony! Quite the honor to be a part of CEMEC and the wonderful crowd there. Also UCSD has a killer campus!

My music in San Diego

Paul — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:12:03 +0000

An art film based on The Next Step is to Go Back will be playing at the prestigious California Electronic Music Exchange Concert tomorrow in San Diego. The venue is a church near UCSD. It’s an honor! Info here

Squarepusher – Drax 2

Paul — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:37:37 +0000

New awesomeness from Squarepusher, from the upcoming album Ufabulum.

Squarepusher was my first true love and my introduction to Warp Records back in 1998. I’ll be a fan for life.

Fiona Apple, Bachelorette

Paul — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:40:27 +0000

Had the good fortune to be present for what will likely be Bachelorette’s final performance. More on that later. I’m off to class. Here’s a fabulous new Fiona Apple track.

Above It All

Paul — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 04:40:13 +0000

My collaboration with Norwegian choreographer Cesilie Kverneland. Just try not to think of gorgeous snowy landscapes while experiencing this dance. It begins with falling air, then develops into a distant, undulating organ. Thin, beautiful bowed marimba (thanks Dan Ogrodnik!) takes us through some thoughtful swells, then the piece becomes more rhythmic as the electronics start to take off. Manipulations of preceding sounds abound, a synth wakes you from your reverie, only to settle down once more, fooling the listener into complacency. The synth hits again, even louder this time, but the payoff comes in the form of beats and wobbles in a just-not-quite-right 8 1/2 over four. The poem which helped inform the choreography is read in its native Norwegian, and then the ambience returns, larger and even slower than before. The final bass hit is so thick and so deep, you can see it vibrate the camera lens at 10:05.

The movement is incredible, reminiscent of the Butoh tradition, including the full white body paint. I’m very proud of this piece and look forward to more collaborations with Cesilie!

Rubberbandits – I Wanna Fight Your Father

Paul — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:26:27 +0000

Witty Irish ironic hip hop group Rubberbandits singing “I Wanna Fight Your Father” in Gaeilge and dancing in this surreal music video that is currently my favorite thing.

Click “CC” for lyrics in English!

Mirroring – Silent From Above

Paul — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:36:59 +0000

Grouper and Tiny Vipers, two ultra-talented ladies from the Pacific Northwest, have combined forces to form Mirroring, proving once again that girls are awesome. This song is sickly gorgeous and I recommend listening on repeat for seven hours with no breaks.

Mid-Res, Shabazz Palaces

Paul — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:18:16 +0000

Just had a very successful performance last night for my mid-residency recital, materials from which I will post soon. Until then, enjoy this new head-bobbin’ remix from Signal Path, which you can download for free.