>on the other hand i finally got an ear on Mathew. was i disappointed? >almost. following discussion on a list for a while, i expected >something more special - a great production at least, even if i >wouldnt like it personally. and this is where i'm stuck, cause both >"decompression" and "behind the mirror" EPs appear so average to me.
Whoever said this, I have to agree 98%. I picked-up "Decompression" and "Behind The Mirror" and I have given them both as fair and open-minded and thorough a listen as I could muster. I've had both for about a month and I've listened to them at least 2 times a week during that time. The reason being that there has been such a kerfuffle about Mr Jonson on here recently surrounding his merits vs other people's opinions that these had been overstated. But above that, I remember people have been singing his praises forcefully (for his productions) for over a year. All I can comment on is these two records though, as I'm not sure if I've heard anything else by him. To me they are not poor, not bad, but there seems to be a mismatch between them the hype (in some quarters) which have preceded them, and the records themselves (to my mind). I like both tracks on the "Behind The Mirror" release more than the "Decompression" ones although having said that, I like "Ultraviolet" (side b of "Decompression) more than the actual main track. Like the person I quote (sorry, didn't see your name) I expected something much more special, production wise, style wise; something new, adventurous, something outstanding maybe. But these tracks are not that. (imo). What this says to me though is not that people are wrong to expect so much, but that I need to check out those earlier releases! Also, it seems people *want* to like the guy and his productions an awful lot. I can see the reasons for that: he's young, 'new', seems to be promising (his dad was a musician) and from what I hear, he seems an ok guy. Mostly though, what this situation seems to underline to me is a big need for new blood in this favourite music of ours, to take things to the next level or simply to pick up the torch of those who perhaps might need to consider handing it over. Wether MJ is going to prove one of the more notable examples of new blood in years to come, is still open to question, of course. I don't see any reason why he he oughtn't to be! But I don't think if he is notable in coming years, it will be for these two releases. k
