PHONSECA: “Between a dream” è l’album di debutto (ambient / elettronica)

Between a Dream is the debut album by Phonseca, electronica solo project of Bristol-based artist Matthew O’Connor.

The album includes tunes from the Afterglow EP which gained airplay on Gideon Coe’s BBC 6 Music show and very positive reviews from national music press and blogs. The album expands on the EP’s sound with electro beats, intelligent pop sensibilities and minimal ambient textures.

After playing synths in bands around Bristol’s eclectic music scene, with styles as diverse as Rock, Britpop, Shoegaze, Psyche and House, Matthew followed a more minimal Ambient/Electronica direction. His training as a classical pianist also had a subtle influence on the sound, which at the same time, led to composing library music where his work has been synchronised on primetime TV like BBC1’s ‘The One Show’, Channel 5 programs and national TV in Poland and Romania. During this time, after an inspiring trip to Barcelona’s Sonar Festival, he began to produce music which developed into the album.

The album opens with glacial track ‘What Would You Do’, inspired by the poem ‘Afterglow’ by Helen Lowrie Marshall, while the lead track is the euphoric ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ which features Robin Hawkins formerly of The Automatic on bass.

With the sublime ‘Wait For Me’, ‘Frozen Music’ and the blissful cover of New Order’s classic ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’, all featuring the stunning vocals of Kristina Sheppard, Phonseca has released a work that justifies comparisons with artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto, Joy Division, The Pet Shop Boys and Jon Hopkins.

The remarkable remix of ‘I See Stars’ by legendary electronica artist Robin Rimbaud (Scanner) closes the album.

Lastly, recording the vocals and tweaking production at Invada Studios (Beak, Portishead, The KVB) with engineer Stu Matthews, ensured an original, inspired and self-assured debut album.