bernstein
Matthew's EP
RCP 008 | 01.24.2008

1. “Auf Mich”
2. “Recover”
3. “Seek [bernstein's Covetous mix]”
4. “Less Is Mass”
5. “Grifting [Kevin Bacon from Footloose's No Money Mix]”
6. “Dark Matter”
7. “Check Out”

Fikk mich! bernstein is a dynamo at spinning the belabored twangs of everyday into eloquent, mettlesome measures. “Auf Mich” is the symphonic equivalent of an angst-laden silverware opera: poised, tangential and uniquely brilliant, able to transcend the language barrier and the cranium in a single bound.

In the event that your central nervous system starts a garage band, seek bernstein immediately for advice, medication. Precise and methodical, “Recover” pantomimes the elegant symmetry of the human form, recycling beats and tones like precious blood.

A sprawling, arching voyage into a blindness, “Seek” allows the listener to conceptualize the sound of the color black. Nuanced and nebulous, bernstein teases the listener tonally with what cannot be seen, but felt measure by measure.

“Less is Mass” = a true affront to thermodynamics. bernstein may not be able to create matter, but he can conjure substance through matter-of-fact, yet spirited rhythms, like a symphony of steel working tools.

180 degrees of separation beyond the banal cult classic. With sweet prudence, bernstein smiths a seemingly obstinate track that deftly defies melodic convention only to reinvent it as veritable tonal dialogue. “Grifting” leaves one feeling quite rich.

The ostensible soundtrack of a miscreant paint mixer than ran off to join the circus, “Dark Matter” blooms and stretches dynamically into a dance-worthy anthem of infinitesimal suspense.  Laden with surprises of sound around every measure, this track knows how to keep its intentions hidden.

This beat-heavy, soul-rich track is embossed with a watery swish and sway, sounding close to the tunes forever housed in Al Green’s head if he  had rented it to Aphex Twin. Comforting, calming and cunningly cerebral, “Check Out” makes one want to do just that.

Mastering by Constantine Bischoff

bernstein's biography/discography