Martina Berther and Philipp Schlotter are prolific in their respective ways, having been active in pop and jazz music, respectively, as well as playing in bands and exploring the outer fringes of sound art or composing music for film. Their first joint album »Matt« was recorded over the course of four days in a church in the Swiss village after which the album was named. Berther and Schlotter worked with the building’s organ as well as synthesizers and electric bass to follow an experimental approach that oscillated between composition and free improvisation. The five pieces, recorded directly to tape by Flo Götte without any additional overdubs, are characterised by an intimacy and rawness that calls to mind the introspective atmosphere of Hallow Ground labelmates FUJI||||||||||TA or mastering engineer Lawrence English's latest album for the Swiss label. »Matt« is the result of two versatile composers and musicians executing minimalist ideas by giving them plenty of space to unfold. The album opens with »Unruhe,« a composition that is based on the twelve-tone technique. Using a stopwatch to ensure the adherence to the pre-determined temporal intervals between the individual notes, Berther and Schlotter used the church organ and synthesizers for an ominous piece that traverses different moods and levels of intensity throughout its 14-minute run time. »LFO1« and »LFO2« are different variations of the same concept: Based on a synthesizer preset and structured by an organ drone, two tone generators slowly fall silent, resulting in elegiac pieces that call to mind the work of Éliane Radigue. »Frachter« and »Gallia« put more emphasis on percussive elements. Again working with organ as well as Berther's prepared electric bass, this improvisation comprises interlocking textures that sound almost menacing on »Frachter,« while they create a very different atmosphere on »Gallia.« These notable discrepancies in sound and mood are even more astonishing if you consider that the two pieces are based on the exact same recording, played at different speeds. As two variations on the same idea with very different results, these two pieces perfectly represent how the duo effectively creates emotionally affective sound worlds with very few means. Berther and Schlotter's conceptual minimalism yields rewarding, multi-faceted aesthetic results. »Matt« is an intimate album, marked by a sense of vividness and spontaneity, but also the product of compositional conciseness.
Release date:
November 10, 2023
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Vinyl Care - Top Picks
A selection of accesories to keep your turntable equipment & vinyl records in the best shape
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Dusted Angel This Side Of The Dirt (Orange)
Heavy Psych Sounds
September 26, 2025 -
Mayday Parade Sad
Miscellaneous Record
October 3, 2025 -
Mariah Carey Here For It All
Gamma.
September 26, 2025 -
Hail The Sun cut. turn. fade. back.
Equal Vision Records
October 31, 2025 -
My Morning Jacket Z (20th Anniversary) [3xLP]
Ato Records
October 3, 2025 -
Múm History Of Silence
Morr Music / M.m.
September 26, 2025 -
Of Monsters and Men All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade [2xLP]
Skarkali Records
October 17, 2025 -
Grant Green Solid (Blue Note Classic Edition)
Blue Note
October 17, 2025 -
Native Sun Concrete Language
TODO
September 19, 2025 -
William Basinski The Disintegration Loops (Arcadia Archive Edition) [8xLP]
Temporary Residence
November 7, 2025 -
Chris Young I DIDN'T COME HERE TO LEAVE
Black River Entertainment
October 17, 2025 -
Original Broadway Cast of Just In Time Jonathan Groff Just In Time
Atlantic
November 28, 2025 -
David Gilmour THE LUCK and STRANGE CONCERTS [4xLP]
Legacy Recordings
October 17, 2025 -
The Cords The Cords (Baby Blue)
Slumberland Records
September 26, 2025