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Introducing… Matthew Collings
Edinburgh composer Matthew Collings unveils his experimental sound with the release of the free download track, Vasilia, available to download from Bandcamp. The song is taken from the album Splintered Instruments, released earlier this year via Fluid Audio Recordings.
Vasilia encapsulates Matthew Collings sound perfectly. A powerful yet minimalist track, in which the instrumental tapestry and transient vocals are topped off with a droning pulse of strings, piano and synth. The sound produced is one of ominous beauty as strings and percussion play off one another, intertwining with Matthew’s vocals bewitchingly as the track forges to a climactic ending.
You can download 'Vasilia below or from the Matthew Collings' Bandcamp page.
Splintered Instruments is Matthew’s first solo project having previously performed under the name Sketches for Albinos. Here Matthew takes inspiration from the likes of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Public Service Broadcasting, Autechre and Bedroom Community Record Label to create a sound exploring abrasive soundscapes of noise combined with atmospheric, ethereal beauty akin to Sigur Ros and God Speed You! Black Emperor. The album exhibits Matthew’s eclectic influences as well as his unerring ability to construct a sense of diversity throughout - highlighted by the crisp, clean ‘Routine’, and juxtaposed by the mass turbulence of ‘They Meet on the Subway’.
The album features a raft of special guests ranging from Helgi Hrafn Jonsson (a member of Sigur Ros’s backing band), Frank Aarnick (Icelandic Philharmonic Orchestra) and Ben Frost (Bedroom Community) - who also engineered and produced the album.
Having picked up support from the likes of The List earlier this year, Matthew is keen to maintain the momentum gained from his first self-titled project. The release of Vasilia will kickstart a busy second half of the year for Matthew with a single to follow in August, a planned tour of Europe this winter, commencing work on a follow up record as well as continuing to create sonic art projects such as the Erik Parr collaboration, The Third Mind.
Vasilia is free to download from Matthew’s Bandcamp page and Splintered Instruments is out now via Fluid Audio Recordings.