Umberto / Helpless Spectator
Album: Helpless Spectator   Collection:General
Artist:Umberto   Added:Aug 2019
Label:Thrill Jockey Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2019-08-13 Pull Date: 2019-10-15 Charts: Classical/Experimental
Week Ending: Oct 6 Sep 29 Sep 8 Aug 18
Airplays: 1 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Oct 05, 2019: Music Casserole
Arroyo
3. Sep 07, 2019: Music Casserole
The Higher Room
2. Sep 28, 2019: Music Casserole
Hidden Thoughts
4. Aug 14, 2019: Brownian Motion
Hidden Thoughts

Album Review
DeVoss
Reviewed 2019-08-07
– General Description: Matt Hill uses the stage name Umberto (an homage to Italian director Umberto Lenzi) when recording solo. Hill is primarily a film composer (most recently scoring the 2019 film “All That We Destroy”). These pieces create bewitching atmospheres at times using mostly synths and strings. You can definitely feel the horror/sci-fi movie music influence. Hill also makes good use of live instrumentation in his compositions. Mood setting and worth a listen.

– Musicians:
Matt Hill - composer, synths, guitar, bass, piano
Aaron Martin - cello, bowed banjo
“Idaho” Joe Winslow - pedal steel guitar

– FCC Compliant: YES
– Recommended Tracks: 1, 7, 8
– Track Reviews:

1.*** (6:24) Hidden Thoughts - ethereal and creepy in a nice way
2. (5:44) Leafless Tree - a merry-go-round of 1 thru 6 with mostly bell-like images above
3. (5:08) Spontaneous Possession - animated; bangs like someone pounding on your door non-stop with all your appliances sending out tunes over it
4. (4:42) Reflection - a loud heartbeat under what initially sounds like spacey flatulence, then it rollercoasters
5. (5:38) The Higher Room - mellower piece, cowboys in space sort of sound
6. (5:20) Sadness, Happiness, Disgust, and Surprise - this is sort of a nightmare soundscape that can be disturbing if you’re not expecting it
7.*** (2:45) Absent Images - a sweet and sad, little melancholic piece
8.***(6:18) Arroyo - (‘stream’ or ‘creek’), stately and airy, and also sad

Track Listing
1. Hidden Thoughts   5. The Higher Room
2. Leafless Tree   6. Sadness, Happiness, Disgust, And Surprise
3. Spontaneous Possession   7. Absent Images
4. Reflection   8. Arroyo