ZiBiR
"A new CD-EP release for the UK-based Haunted House Recordings label, with ZIBIR a debut of a new solo effort of Mat Howlett. We lately have discovered Mat’s other project HAPPY WELLY, a kind of fun and light-hearted Electronica project. But ZIBIR differs musically by offering a kind of instrumental arranged lo-fi dark electronic music and likes to call the works of KRAFTWERK, DAFT PUNK and DEEE-LITE as possible influences. Not very conventionally produced, the provided music here offers rhythmically tunes with a lighter attitude, but also stuff to sink in and chill-out (“Electrodes (Matulator Mix)”). Quite interesting arranged, this 6-track EP offers at all three different tracks, plus three remix works on the title track, one of them created by the label colleague of CREATURE. The “Maximix” of the title track gets my vote for the best piece here, maybe asides the darker sounding remix work by CREATURE. “Electrodes” works well as a convincing background sound design, but offers also several interesting structures and ideas to get checked out under a pair of headphones."
Marc Tater for Chain D.L.K Magazine
ZiBiR is the creation of Mat Howlett. Growing up Mat was into bands like Adam Ant, Madness, Dire Straits, Queen, and Dr Hook. From there Mat got into the breakdance scene and then full on Hip Hop. He was then introduced to Metallica and became a lifelong metalhead.
Mat's interest in creating music started out when a friend showed him how to play a C chord on an acoustic guitar at school. The moment Mat made that guitar make a proper sound, he was hooked. The buzz of making something musical never left him and he has been writing, performing and recording everything from acappela to blastbeat death metal ever since.
ZiBiR is a project that Mat has wanted to do for a while. It brings together lots of musical elements, like punchy drums, galloping hi-hats, thick analogue synths, sweeping strings, moody pads and above all BIG FAT RIFFS!!!
Musical influences for ZiBiR include Kraftwerk, Daft Punk, Deee-Lite and anything quirky and electronic. ZiBiR is equally influenced by music from old computer games, especially old school Commodore 64 composers like Hubbard, and Galway.
ZiBiR Life Begins is like taking a musical intergalactic themepark ride. There are moody dark areas. There are bright, fun areas. There are even happy uplifting areas. If you look hard enough you will find a picnic area just outside track 6.
RELEASES
REVIEW
“Life Begins” for this UK-based solo-project of the Electronica-musician Mat Howlett, but since he has already released a debut EP entitled “Electrodes” on Haunted House Records before, would it not making sense to name this album “Life Continues”? However, it’s good to see and hear that there’s still musically activity asides the – let’s call it so – main label act CREATURE. Mat has collected 14 different tracks to offer his first full-length album and it can be seen as a kind of showcase of his programming abilities as well as his dedication to analogue produced synthesizer sounds. The music can’t be completely sorted into a strict genre-drawer, too often the tracks do leave the known paths. Between smooth and melodic harmonies (“Expectations”) and typically mid-80ies synth-programmings (“Life Begins”) heavily infiltrated with that romantic Pop/Wave attitude, this album fulfills all of your expectations, if you can find yourself familiar with this styles. Not EBM, also not at all Pop music, I like to place it very generally in the wide field of Electronica music – at least this vague description can mean anything. This seems to be quite intentional for Mat, as he produces his stuff far away from any hypes, maybe mostly for his own entertainment. Quite interesting sound design and mostly tastefully arranged, just give it a try.
Marc Tater, Chain DLK
Buy ZiBiR Albums Direct
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