Matt Camgros's Electronic Explorations on "sfogt//Adso"
In a time where so much of the music industry is ultra-processed pop songs by preordained industry plants, Matt Camgros’s “sfogt//Adso” is a needed respite into the world of improvisation and experimentation combined with virtuosic musical talent.
MUSICREVIEWS
8/10/20264 min read
Matt Camgros at his home studio
Despite Matt Camgros’s solitary approach to the project, which was entirely performed and produced by the individual musician, it follows in the improvisational spirit found in many of the drummer led projects highlighted above. Though firmly planted in the electronic music meta-genre, it belies the musician’s diverse background as the live drummer and collaborator with the band crushed as well as his jazz and improvisation credentials.
The method of production; improvisation, exploration, and dialogue between the drums and synthesizers, creates a dreamy, ethereal groove throughout the EP. The project is a study of space, both the extraterrestrial kind and the concept in general, with the live drumming expanding and contracting measure by measure within the constraints of the synthesizer phrases. Despite the melodies being produced exclusively by electronic instrumentation, the EP retains an organic feel as it quickly moves through motifs without loitering too long within one idea or groove.
The live drums keep the project grounded in it’s funky progression, yet also are where the project really spreads its wings. Unlike many electronic acts that simply feature a drum beat pounded out on a midi and put on repeat, Campgros’s drums playfully dilate and constrict throughout the project, with an extra run, fill, or cymbal crash adding complexity and warmth the as synthesizers vacillate in the foreground.
“I wanted to treat the electronics as other musicians in the room rather than instruments I already knew how to control.”
"The music began with with long improvisations using [a] drum set and usually one of two synthesizers looping a phrase. Alot of this project coincided with learninghow to use a 303. Instead of knowing what every tweak would do, I tried to react and be surprised”
Drummer led projects always seem to be particularly enigmatic entries into the annuls of music, whereas the deep study of percussion, rhythm, and timekeeping seems to generate a unique musical sensibility. They often take a more collaborative and experimental approach to music in which hierarchy and structure are eschewed for a more egalitarian creative philosophy. Though drummers are often trained in music theory and piano composition, often orchestrating projects through lead sheets or full written composition, the nature of percussion instruments seem to open the mind to experimentation and musical communion.
Artists like Billy Cobham, James Mtume, Ginger Baker, and countless other percussionists have created some of the most rewarding music in the last half century by collecting a variety of musicians interested in improvisation and jam sessions, or at least assembling a team of other deeply skilled musical artisans who can contribute in their unique voices. Billy Cobham’s “Spectrum” album featured a variety of legendary musicians including Tommy Bolin on Guitar, Jan Hammer on keys, and Ron Carter/Leland Sklar sharing duties on the Bass, for example. Matt Camgros’s upcoming EP, “sfogt//Adso”, follows in this extemporaneous and experimental ethos, though with a novel twist – instead of working with other live musicians, he enlisted a variety of synthesizers and leveraged the process of learning their functionality into the creative process. In Camgros's own words:
“Although the music draws from electronic artists, my background as a drummer is what informs everything. Its my main instrument and where I feel most grounded."
Cover of EP "sfogt//Adso" by Matt Camgros
"sfogt” begins with just Camgros on the drums and a synthesizer flashing chords before quickly building into an electronic soundscape, with the 303s acting as a sonic sandbox for the drummer to play around in. Despite the this, the track never feels boastful or listless as it constantly evolves and progresses through the 7 and a half minute runtime. The track has a dreamy quality, as if floating underwater in a warm bay near a coral reef, observing the multitude of life embracing the listener – until the midpoint where the track abruptly shifts into ray-like synth hits and a drum and bass beat.
“Adso” immediately jumps into groovy hip hop drumbeats over arpeggios and a sliding synthesizer that drives the song across a variety of progressions. The drum playing is reminiscent of Joseph Modeliste of the Meters, in that its simultaneous tight and on beat but also loose and freewheeling, with a variety of interesting syncopated stylings that reward deep listening. The last half of the song slows down a bit an lets Camgros really show his chops with some impressive work the snare and cymbals as the drums slowly build in complexity as the snythesizers focus on a single repetitive groove.
Camgros has mentioned Luke Vibert and Aphex Twin as influences on the EP, and listeners of those two musicians will certainly hear some familiar themes and figures. One could also hear some Benn Jordan, especially his early acid house recordings released as Human Action Network. That said, Camgros’s work as a session musician across a variety of styles and genres is evident, which opens up the work to a broader appeal, especially among those who enjoy the laid back and ambient work of the aforementioned influences.
Overall, the EP is an enjoyable listen on a variety of levels; its mellow enough for background listening, is melodically engrossing and interesting enough to keep ones attention for 14 minutes of focused listening, and it truly rewards those who spend some time concentrating on the drums and the dialogue between them and the two other “synthetic musicians” in the room. In a time where so much of the music industry is ultra-processed pop songs by preordained industry plants, Matt Camgros’s “sfogt//Adso” is a needed respite into the world of improvisation and experimentation combined with virtuosic musical talent.
The EP will be available for stream or purchase on Matt Camgros's bandcamp starting 8/14.