Matter – Refrattario (Album – Subsidence)

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Experimental, Dark-Electro.
Format: Digital, Cassette.
Background/Info: Fabrizio Matrone has already released several productions under the Matter moniker on different recognized labels such as Ant-Zen, Kvitnu, Soviet Media Control, Le Petit Machiniste ao. “Refrattation” features eight tracks released on Matrone’s own label.
Content: Both last albums released by Ant-Zen revealed an explicit Industrial-Trance approach which is a bit gone with this new work. The composition brings different influences together. Taking off a Klinik-al way with dark noises in the background, the next cuts are mixing Industrial sound treatments together with dark atmospheres. You now and then will vocal passages. Repetitive loops remind us of the transcendental effect of previous works.
+ + + : Matter doesn’t exactly repeat itself but seems a project in constant evolution. The composition is meticulously built up revealing a true sonic arsenal. I like the uplifting effect of the Industrial loops. The opening piece “Inerte” is a great cut but I also recommend “Ostinato” and “Distanza”.
– – – : Speaking for myself the album “Primitive Forms” (2018) remains an absolute reference and I honestly miss this sensation at the new work. This is more Experimental like and less accessible.
Conclusion: Matter moves on taking its audience by surprise, having achieved a dark and diversified work.
Best songs: “Inerte”, “Ostinato”, “Distanza”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.matters.it / www.facebook.com/matter.it
Label: www.facebook.com/subsidence.rec
About Matter
Matter is the project of Italian musician Fabrizio Matrone, who works in industrial electronics, experimental sound and technoid rhythm.
Matrone has released through Ant-Zen, Kvitnu, Le Petit Machiniste, Soviet Media Kontrol and Black Chrysalis Archive.
“Refrattario” was issued on 8 April 2022 by Subsidence, an Italian label based in Bologna that covers electronic, experimental, techno, noise and ambient music. The album holds eight tracks and came out on digital and cassette.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
