Matmos / Rat Relocation Project
Album: Rat Relocation Project   Collection:General
Artist:Matmos   Added:Aug 2004
Label:Locust Music  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2004-09-06 Pull Date: 2004-11-07 Charts: Classical/Experimental
Week Ending: Sep 26 Sep 12
Airplays: 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Mar 01, 2005: Eclectica
Rat Relocation, Rat
3. Sep 08, 2004: press and release
Rat Relocation
2. Sep 22, 2004: press and release
Rat Relocation

Album Review
Gabe
Reviewed 2004-09-01
The background is that Matmos trapped a rat in their apartment using a “have-a-heart” (non-lethal) trap. Track 1 is “an unedited recording of the rat protesting its incarceration.” Thus, 14 minutes of occasional squealing, some rattling of the metal cage, and a lot of void that your listeners will be hard pressed to distinguish from dead air. An acquired taste but not good radio by itself. On the other hand, certainly something out of the ordinary. Track 2 “remixes” track 1 by preserving the “timing and duration of the rat screams from the first track” while adding Matmos-esque explosions of extremely-closely-recorded god-knows-what, causing you to tear your hair out trying to set the board level. Perversely, a Can-like bass groove in the seventh minute, followed at random-ish intervals by further musical interludes. No doubt there’s more to it than I can hear or detect, given Matmos’ high concept approach to sound but that’s all you’re getting out of me on this one.

Track Listing
1. Rat   2. Rat Relocation