Young, Matthew

***MATTHEW YOUNG’s genre-bending, acclaimed 1986 release Traveler’s Advisory reappeared as a reissue on Drag City/Yoga in 2010 and quickly sold out. We now return to Young’s first effort, Recurring Dreams, dating back to 1981 and the apex of the Eno/Berlin schools’ influence over a myriad of American followers. Young created eight EMS/Rhodes pieces solo, subtly weaving in variable-speed Revox manipulation of traditional rock instrumentation with the lightest of touches. As anyone who has heard Traveler’s Advisory already knows, Matthew Young could never be a mere imitator. What all too often amounted to predictable schtick in the field of early ‘80s home electronica, Young made personal, delicate, discreet, and discrete. Wordlessly illustrating its titles—“Version, Inversion,” “The Forest Of Lilacs,” and “Mistral” (a strong, cold, northwesterly wind), Young conjures vivid, progressive tones of the unknown. Recurring Dreams requires repeat listenings to fully reveal its Bonsai-like qualities. Fans of Erik Satie, JD Emmanuel, private-issue new age or the more placid side of minimal synth should take note of this one. Drag City and Yoga Records are proud to reintroduce Matthew Young’s Recurring Dreams. (STREET DATE - 7/22/2014)