Noise Level
London, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF
Music
Press
by Bryon Hayes
At its nascence in 2004, Noise Level was conceived by its creator (London, ON native Ed Matthews) as an electronic ethno-ambient project. Over a handful of years and releases, Matthews has flirted with a variety of styles. On Body, his latest release, dub, reggae and techno are cross-pollinated with the likes of ambient, dubstep, drum & bass and even pop electronica. The resulting concoction is surprisingly clean and fresh sounding, perhaps because the entire album (save some reggae toasting) was arranged, performed, recorded and produced by Matthews. The songs that comprise Body generally fall into one of two categories: dancehall reggae infused with flourishes of drum & bass and dubstep, and techno/pop tunefulness imbued with a spirit of ambient drift. This makes for a somewhat disjointed listening experience for the album as a whole, but the briskness of the music more than makes up for a few unexpected shifts in genre.
(Independent) - Exclaim Magazine, January 17, 2012
Liquid Sky's promo material asks, "what is music but organized noise?" and it is the thin divide between the two that sampler/keyboardist Ed Matthews and synth player Rick Walton explore as the duo behind Noise Level. The Liquid Sky unfolds as a collection of scene-setting, mostly ambient miniatures. Gaseous synths, low hums, obscure B-movie clips and the occasional beat barrage puncture cathedral atmospherics and mostly fluid sequences. Keeping the pace of a film score though, The Liquid Sky is bolder than background music and it plays out as a study in contrasts between stillness and controlled frenzy, expanding the liminal space between them.
(Woodman) - Exclaim Magazine, October 2009
Coming hard on the heels of The Liquid Sky CD earlier this year, Taking the World Apart shows some noticeable advances in an already enjoyably engaging work in progress by London's own Ed Matthews, recording under the Noise Level moniker. It's easy to discern growth across several fronts, especially in the area of sound quality and production and the beautiful complexity many tracks exhibit. This listener was reminded of Brian Eno during his Another Green World phase, which still stands as one of his most lastingly satisfying efforts to date. It will be interesting to see where Matthews' conceptual continuity takes him from here. One hopes that future releases will the idea that it's okay to dance and think at the same time. Recommended, - Rod Nicholson
Performance: B+ / Production: B+ - Scene Magazine, October 8, 2009
London's own world-class electro/ambient sound project continues to grow both conceptually and sonically on this latest effort. Noise Level has served local musical alchemist Ed Matthews well, allowing his ideas and vision to develop organically. The album is full of revelatory moments that indicate that the sky is literally the limit for this musical entity, with the strongest and most memorable tracks being the ones that manage to strike just the right balance between rhythm and ambience. The mood of these compositions ranges from slinky and ominously insinuating grooves to unabashed nods to the basic notion that it's all about the beat.. Unlike so much of the sound experimentation that takes place in the name of innovation, Conceptual Continuity never loses its human touch. Recommended. - Rod Nicholson Performance: A / Production: A - Scene Magazine, March 11, 2010
Formed in 2004, Noise Level is an ethno-ambient electronic sound project designed to evoke the world of film soundtracks. The music mutates and manipulates sound effects and original samples, while at the same time exploring the commonality between noise and music.
Last month, Noise Level (aka Ed Matthews) released his new CD, This Island Earth, the follow-up to his previous effort, Conceptual Continuity. This Island Earth features nine tracks, which range from dub, dubstep, drum & bass, and Bollywood-styled reggae.
"Unlike previous releases, which featured a wide range of electronic music styles, the attempt here is to focus on styles that compliment rather than contrast with one another," says Matthews.
"All the instruments heard on this disc were created using a MIDI keyboard triggering soft synths loaded into my laptop. Primarily, I use software designed by the Berlin-based company Native Instruments. These include Absynth 5, Guitar Rig 4, Kontakt 4, the Kore Player, Maschine, Massive and Reactor 5."
Noise Level will perform at the East Village Coffee House on Saturday, February 26th, 7:00.p.m. - Scene Magazine, February 10, 2011
What’s the meaning behind your name? Noise Level is a reference to the idea that music is simply organized noise: strumming, plucking, banging instruments that create musical sounds. It refers to the level of “noise” – however you wish to define it – that exists in music. As well, Noise Level music tends to feature electronic drones, or harmonic audio frames, but the idea of drones actually goes back to Gregorian chants and ancient music in general.
- Vents Magazine, October, 2010
For many years London has been known for its vibrant indie music scene. Although some feel the recent past has not been kind to indie artists, the evidence indicates things are looking up.....
As far as the recording scene is concerned, groups/artists like The Dyadics, Metro4, Thieving Birds, Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, Alex Ernewein, Noise Level, More More, Helix, and Chris Murphy all released indie CDs recently.... - Scene Magazine, December 22, 2011
On the evidence that This Island Earth presents, London's own electro/experimental/sound alchemist Ed Matthews might find his musical incarnation Noise Level as a career/artistic crossroads before too much longer. It may just be about time to bust out of L-seven and take Noise Level to the next level because the Forest City may soon be turning into small a pond for this rapidly evolving sonic fish. Matthews' work and inspiration for this new CD is a revelation as takes things away from the sometimes confining cut and paste style of recordings past and makes each track more of an entity unto itself. The overall impression here is of a much more sophisticated beat-based sound and feel that needs to be heard worldwide. - Rod Nicholson Performance: A / Production: A - Scene Magazine, February 24, 2011
Noise Level is the brainchild of London keyboardist Ed Matthews who began pumping out ambient/electronic sound projects in 2004. Noise Level's latest full-length disc, Body, features 11 original compositions created with the aid of a software program known as Ableton Live. It allows Matthews to record, remix, arrange, compose, and perform anything he hears in his head and what he hears makes for an interesting journey. Many of the tracks here are mellow and atmospheric with the sounds of piano, drums, synths, spoken word and reggae chants floating in and out the soundscape. Tracks like "Bam Bam!" would sound right at home at the dancehall, while others like the title track and "New Sensations" are best suited for layin' back and chillin' out.
Performance B+/Production B+ - John Sharpe, - Scene Magazine, February 16, 2012
At its nascence in 2004, Noise Level was conceived by its creator (London, ON native Ed Matthews) as an electronic ethno-ambient project. Over a handful of years and releases, Matthews has flirted with a variety of styles. On Body, his latest release, dub, reggae and techno are cross-pollinated with the likes of ambient, dubstep, drum & bass and even pop electronica. The resulting concoction is surprisingly clean and fresh sounding, perhaps because the entire album (save some reggae toasting) was arranged, performed, recorded and produced by Matthews. The songs that comprise Body generally fall into one of two categories: dancehall reggae infused with flourishes of drum & bass and dubstep, and techno/pop tunefulness imbued with a spirit of ambient drift. This makes for a somewhat disjointed listening experience for the album as a whole, but the briskness of the music more than makes up for a few unexpected shifts in genre.
(Independent) - Exclaim Magazine, January, 2012
This latest chapter in the Noise Level saga/musical journey finds London, Ontario sound-painter Ed Matthews taking himself and the listener on a whirlwind tour of some of the sonic images working their way through his creative consciousness. The album is aptly titled as he explores the interzone where ambient dub, electro and progressive dance music meets. The old saw about practice making perfect is in full effect here as anyone who’s been following Matthews’ progress will note that his compositional touch and way with rhythms are becoming increasingly sophisticated and emotionally involving. This ‘human touch’ element makes Soaked In Dub an enjoyable world-class listen on a purely entertainment level and a major step forward stylistically and creatively for Matthews and the Noise Level project. – Rod Nicholson Performance: A/Production: B+ - Scene Magazine, April 11, 2013
EKM/Noise Level won the Electronic Category at the 2013 Jack Richardson Music Awards. This is the second time Noise Level has won this award, the first being in 2010. - London Free Press, April 14, 2013
With Liquid Sky, London's Ed Matthews (the brains behind Noise Level), has created a work of art that easily alongside works by electronic/ambient notables such as Brian Eno and Jon Hassell. Using found sounds and sampled voices, Matthews manages to engage the listener both mentally and emotionally, taking things to a much deeper and simultaneously higher level than most artists working in this musical genre. One of the distinctive hallmarks of his style is a great ability to bring a warm and very human aspect to the computerized sonic manipulations that are used to weave this intriguing and highly entertaining tapestry of sound together. The result is alternatively pleasing and discomfitting mix of sounds that gels into something transcending its ingredients. Recommended. - Rod Nicholson
Performance: B+/ Production: B+ - Scene Magazine (July 2, 2009)
London sound artist Noise Level (aka Ed Matthews) is the guest on this week's Reaney's Pick.
Sound artist - sound design - sound manipulation. They all fit in that category, Matthews says of his art.
Noise Level's laptop, two controllers and keyboard used in this week's Pick arrived at the newsroom Wednesday via the LTC bus. The Pick looks ahead to Noise Level's in-store appearance in downtown London at Grooves, 353 Clarence St. on Saturday at 2 p.m. It's free. Call 519-640-6714.
Born in Montreal, Matthews arrived in London during the 1970's to study Radio Broadcasting at Fanshawe College. Degrees in Film Theory and Production at Concordia and post-graduate studies in Philosophy and Social Theory at York University followed.
On the London music scene, Matthews' wide-ranging experiences include playing with the Pink Floyd-ish band Wuud and performing at the 2009 LOLA fest.
"Fans respond to the mood that an individual piece might evoke," he says.
Away from music, Matthews works in Production at Kellogg's.
"Noise Level is an ethno-ambient, electronic sound project designed to to create audio miniatures that evoke the world of film soundtracks," the artist writes. "The music mutates and manipulates sound effects and samples, while at the same time exploring the commonalities between noise and music. Unlike the classical sound-world, which often attempts to turn noise into music (for example, the Thunderstorm movement in Beethoven's Symphony No. 6), electronic music uses noise as music."
Noise Level emerged in 2004. Its beginnings can be traced back to March 1978. That month, Matthews interviewed Ultravox lead singer John Foxx in Toronto during the promo campaign for the band's "Systems of Romance."
Foxx casually pointed out that, after all, "music is organised noise: plucking, striking, scraping noises blended together to make harmonic sounds."
More than 25 years later, Noise Level takes up the Foxx theme.
Here's the provocative question from the artist's website: "What is music but organised noise?" - London Free Press, March 11, 2010
The fans and the jury have spoken — and the short lists for the 2012 CHRW Local Album of the Year are out.
Western campus radio station 94.9 CHRW announced the Top 10 for albums produced by London-based acts last year in a series of on-air moments on Thursday.
It turns out fans and critics agreed on a number of short listers.
The Allens, Ngajuana, Sarah Smith, Chris Hart and Noise Level are all in the running after the first round of online balloting by fans and separate choices by a jury of London-area music-scenesters (including this reporter).
“What an exciting day this is,” 94.9 CHRW music and promotions director Ashley Desjardine said Thursday.
“There is quite a bit of overlap, which is really telling as to how great these albums are. They should all be very proud.”
After voting to produce the shortlists from dozens of eligible albums submitted to the station (94.9 on the FM dial), fans and the jury will again vote separately.
A winner in each category will be announced on Jan. 30.
The first winner of the CHRW poll was former Western student Basia Bulat, who emerged as No. 1 with Oh, My Darling after a juried vote with results announced late in 2007.
james.reaney@sunmedia.ca
Twitter.com/JamesatLFPress
--- --- ---
FAN FAVOURITE SHORT LIST
The Allens: The Allens
Eastenders: Sudbury Dinner Jacket
EKM: Angels are Bestial
Ngajuana: Section One
Sarah Smith: Stronger Now
Chris Hart: Rock & Roll Revelation
Black Frame Spectacle: Grady Sessions Volume 2
Bill Durst: Live
Riderless: Dividing Locks Into Keys
Noise Level: Body
The prize: fan favourite gets $300 and live-to-air performance on 94.9 CHRW.
--- --- ---
JURIED SHORTLIST
The Allens: The Allens
Counters: This Doesn’t Mean We’re Friends
You’ll Never Get to Heaven: You’ll Never Get to Heaven
Ngajuana: Section One
Sarah Smith: Stronger Now
Chris Hart: Rock & Roll Revelation
Black Frame Spectacle: Grady Sessions Volume 2
Tournament!: Anthems
Riderless: Dividing Locks Into Keys
Noise Level: Body
The prize: The juried winner gets $500 and headlining slot at a spring concert, with details about venue, time TBA. - London Free Press, January 17, 2013
London Free Press Top 10 Albums of the Year. No. 6. NOISE LEVEL - Body. Meanwhile back in the interstellar overdrive universe, Noise Level has turned the edge dial it up a notch or three. Crunchier, in a good way, than other Noise Level works — but it still has the tranquil going. Stop off at Cafe Flesh and then double back to Enforcers (Are Never Wrong). Just move however and wherever and whenever that pulse prods you. - London Free Press, December 15, 2012
Discography
Dub Knowledge (January 2014)
Soaked in Dub (March 2013)
Body (January 2012)
This Island Earth (January 2011)
The Liquid Sky: Remixed ( July 2010)
Conceptual Continuity (January 2010)
Taking the World Apart (October 2009)
The Liquid Sky (June 2009)
COMPILATIONS:
- IFAR's The Beat Sounds From Way Out, Volume 4 (December 2012)
- Vents' INFEST Music Compilation, (December 2011)
- "Trouble in Paradise" selected by Skope Magazine (pop-up player November, 2011)
- Quiet Drones Volume 3 (Paper + Sound, 2011)
- Hands Together Volume 1 (Hands Label, 2011)
- RW-035 Sounds for the subconscious (aReW Recordings, 2011)
- TVP Network Compilation, 2010
Photos
Bio
Keyboardist Ed Matthews began Noise Level in London, Ontario in 2004 as an ethno-ambient, electronic sound project. The objective was to create music that could exist in recorded form, yet lend itself to improvisation in a live setting.
The Liquid Sky, released in June, 2009, was favourably reviewed in the October online edition of Exclaim magazine. It climbed to the #3 position in CHRW Radio Westerns Top Thirty Chart. Matthews was also invited to perform at the LOLA arts and music festival in London. The Liquid Sky: Remixed followed a year later.
Taking the World Apart, released in October, 2009, began to shift away from pure sample-based and ambient home listening tracks to a more dynamic sound. Meanwhile, Noise Level's contribution to the London live music scene resulted in winning the Electronics Category at the 2010 Jack Richardson Music Awards in London, Ontario.
Conceptual Continuity, released in April, 2010, debuted in the #1 position on CHRWs Top Thirty Chart, and the lead track, As Requested, also charted on 106.9 The X CIXX FM. At years end, it was nominated as one of CHRWs Top Ten Local Albums of the Year.
The release also caught the attention of London Free Press Entertainment Editor James Reaney, who featured Noise Level on April 11th in his weekly column Reaneys Pick. Noise Level was featured on CHRW on both Eargasm and Radio Renegade radio shows, and played two live-to-air sessions of new and improvised music. In September, Noise Level was also invited to perform at the historic Ambient Ping in Toronto, Ontario.
This Island Earth, released in January 2011, radically transformed earlier ambient material into stronger, beat-driven live tracks. The disc also served to highlight Matthews developing skills as a composer, keyboardist and producer. The release took Noise Level back to Toronto to further expand its fan base, as well as participate in Music Balm, a local benefit concert at Aeolian Hall in support of mental health awareness.
Body, released in January, 2012, featured a mix of dub, reggae, and minimal techno tracks, several of which had already been part of his live repertoire. It was well received in the April online edition of Exclaim magazine. At years end, Body was selected by James Reaney as one of Londons Top 10 Albums of the Year, and nominated as one of CHRWs Top Ten Local Albums of the Year.
Soaked in Dub, released in March, 2013, continues Noise Levels exploration into ambient dub reggae, in an effort to create a more consistent and recognizable sound. It also received national airplay this past summer at college and university radio stations across Canada. Now, Dub Knowledge is set to capitalize on this new fan base in early 2014.
In fact, Noise Level has now split into two separate projects, with the second, called EKM, now focused primarily on purely ambient electronic music. Matthews' contribution to the live music scene resulted in both bands winning the Electronics Category at the 2013 Jack Richardson Music Awards.
Links
