Stay away if you liked "Gran Riserva" or "Fakes"
Monsieur Le Fevre | Dunedin, NZ | 07/02/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I am sad to say it, but what a disappointment. "Music Matters" is unfortunately a prime example of a failed attempt to evolve musically. The thing that really established dZihan & Kamien was the virtuosity with which they produced classic Vienne lounge with a heavy influence of Jazz and world music. "Freaks & Icons" set the stage, "Gran Riserva" was their master piece and "Fakes" & "Live in Vienna" were the icing on the cake. Indeed it was time to try something new. So the two guys from Vienna ditched their trademark lounge style for... well, what? Mediocre pop songs? Let's call it pieces that sound like bad clones of Coldplay or Radiohead rehearsal bootlegs.
When I first listened to this album I though I had bought a mispressed disc. The music that emanated from my speakers did not sound anywhere like what the cover of the disc suggested (i.e. dZihan & Kamien). Only the track Bazooka confirmed that it was indeed the new DK album spinning in my player. But I gave it another go. But even after listening a third and a fourth time I couldn't warm for this album - the song writing is just too lame, the arrangements and production mediocre. In the end I decided that this album wasn't for me.
So my advice, if you hope to buy something like "Gran Riserva" or "Fakes"... stay away from this. Try something like Unforscene's "Fingers & Thumbs", an album that shows that lounge music can evolve to something more as long as you do not pull out all your roots."
Not quite d&K
C. F. Wesley | 09/06/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Like many d&K fans, I couldn't wait to hear their latest album. The sound developed in their previous albums is masterful, perhaps the absolute pinnacle of downtempo/acidjazz/jazz techno compiled from thought to music. Where will d&K take us next? I couldn't wait to find out...except when I did, I wish I never listened. Music Matters is not dZihan and Kamien. It sounds more like a compilation of songs cut from a pop album remixed worse than MSTRCRFT. The one saving grace of the album is the song "Bazooka," which is great and which fans will enjoy. I just hope that they didn't pick the name of the track to inform their fans that they've "Bazooka'ed" this style out of their repertoire. I'm counting on them releasing a follow up album that's in the style of what were used to, refining their perfection of modern jazz once again. Unfortunately, this album is not that."
Not what I expected
Steven | New Jersey | 08/26/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I was blown away by their 2002 release, Gran Riserva. This album doesn't have the intriguing atmospheres of their previous albums. This is straight forward pop rock, sometimes reminding me of Rufus Wainwright vocals. "I Wish" is a great song. The instrumental "Bazooka" is more like the dZihan Kamien I expected. They've switched gears towards a new direction, far from Freaks & Icons."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1