1999 (?) / www.dominorecordco.com / Movietone

Movietone music is sensual and discreet, sometimes evoking memories of Central European cities in the rain in the 1960's, tricking us into feeling that we are in an apartment, and that the footsteps we hear on the stairwell are our lover's. Other times their music takes us right out to remote beaches or abandoned art-deco buildings or secret airport runways. Right now I can't think of any other contemporary music that is quite so visual, or that follows the same urges and moods as Movietone, so in a way I'd say that makes them quite extreme. It's true all music starts out of nothing, but Movietone make you aware of that like no-one else; especially live, with Kate starting up some freakily spindle-like jazz groove which may temporarily baffle, until another member (usually Matt) gets it and starts laying down an alternative bizarre foundation for the others to colour, making for wild, untutored, intuitive picture-music. I have never watched Movietone thinking that I would rather be somewhere else, at a different concert, or pulled off one of their records to listen to something else. For me, they never make too much music, and so I can't wait for the day, which is getting closer, when I hold their third LP in my hands, unwrap that heavy vinyl and lose myself in their new moods, new evocations. SP