Dear, Matthew
Black City
On the occasion of Ghostly's 25th Anniversary and Black City's 15th Anniversary, Ghostly and Matthew Dear present a special transparent silver vinyl repressing. Released in 2010, 'Black City' marked a pivotal moment for Matthew Dear, blending electronic dance with indie rock to craft a steely, noir-inspired masterpiece. Garnering Pitchfork's Best New Music and a worldwide tour, the album delves into existential paranoia, replacing the love-struck lyricism of Asa Breed with darker, more engrossing themes. With creeping disco tempos, cavernous atmospheres, and eerie distortions, 'Black City' creates an imaginary metropolis filled with desperate souls and moral ambiguity, balanced by flashes of sweetness. Tracks like 'Little People (Black City)' offer a nine-minute disco odyssey laced with ominous lyrics, while 'You Put A Smell on Me' turns sordid themes into a jittery, synth-driven frenzy. Yet, the album's tender moments shine through. 'Slowdance' is a futuristic lullaby steeped in vulnerability, and 'Gem' closes with a hauntingly simple piano ballad. 'Black City' showcases Dear's avant-pop brilliance, cementing his place as a boundary-pushing artist.