Matthew George Luczy - Le Onzième (Absoluczy) [Electronic]

Matthew George Luczy is probably living his dreams. He's a California born, guitar favouring multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, who for a day job reviews wines for The Wine Advocate - the sort of lifestyle that ticks all sorts of boxes for me, and I can't lie, I'm kind of jealous.

In between jobs in 2023, he set off on a European tour of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy armed with a portable music studio that included a Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field, a small MIDI keyboard, and a pair of headphones. When not exploring vineyards he set about composing his own road trip soundtrack, incorporating the sounds of the places that he visited.

The result was an undulating, often piano infused orchestral electronic suite, presumably inspired by the impressive scenery he must have passed through on his travels, and although I'm not entirely sold on the largely overly dramatic vibe (although it's understandable) there's some really cool, piano and ambient electronic tracks on there, "Le Onziéme" being my favourite.

Distant birds open proceedings before a throbbing, somewhat dystopian synth nudges the evolving field recordings into the rear view mirror to allow the synth pads and well placed sonic details to float around the soundscape, giving the attentive listener plenty to explore. Slowly surely the melodic sun creeps over the hills, its light gradually shining through the studio window and parting the dystopian mists to reveal a brighter ambient electronic day - I like a happy ending.

Certainly peep the album and see what you think, but if you're short on time then I'd pay particular attention to the genteel ambient piano of "Sunrise in Cinque Terre" and the field recording infused piano meditation, "Manha em Lagos". Oh and if you like wine then make sure you peep his Insta account.

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Playlist Companion

Find Luczy in the Slowtronic Playlist.