Matt Elliott, who had already made a name for himself in the indie electronic scene under The Third Eye Foundation moniker, ventured into folk territory in the early 2000s. Born in 2004, Drinking Songs is the Englishman's second album under his own name, following The Mess We Made, released in 2003 on Domino. What sets Matt Elliott apart is his ability to fuse different styles, blending chamber folk with Eastern European cabaret music, while simultaneously drawing on his electronic music background, particularly his mastery of sampling and effects, to serve the song. Several hundred concerts across Europe and seven albums later, Matt Elliott now presents Drinking Songs Live 20 Years On, revisiting this landmark album. Recorded at L'Autre Canal in Nancy, where the Englishman has been living for several years now, this album features previously unreleased trio versions. Anyone who has seen him perform solo or with this trio knows how much Matt Elliott has enjoyed drawing on the tracks of Drinking Songs, such as the emblematic and poignant The Kursk..The presence of double bass, piano, and saxophone (which Matt Elliott seems to have fully embraced since his last album The End of Days) adds new dimensions and textures to the compositions. The trio's virtuosity and sensitivity enhance each note, each silence, bringing an even more intimate and compelling force to each track. This collaboration transcends the studio version, capturing the raw emotion of a Matt Elliott who, at 50, seems to be at the peak of his art.Drinking Songs Live 20 Years On is not just a celebration of two decades of internationally recognized work; it is above all an edifying work in exploration and reinterpretation. By breathing new life into his Drinking Songs twenty years later, Matt Elliott has given us a precious gift: the opportunity to listen to Drinking Songs again for the first time.
