matisse profile picture

matisse

...we'll be flying underground...

About Me


They depict their highly acclaimed 2005 ‘Cheap As Art’ debut as ‘an invocation to lunacy, as art always bowed down to madness’. Now, a little over two years later and after eight months of self imposed imprisonment in the studio, matisse unleashed upon the world their sophomore album, the playfully titled Toys Up.
Matisse formed in Athens, Greece, in 1999 and has been performing since; everywhere from small Athenian clubs to supporting acts such as Reammon, Puressence, Shed 7, Frank & Walters, Drugstone etc.
In the summer of 2003, they released an EP, simply entitled ‘4’, through the Columbia label and 2 years later- after a nine month long recording phase- their first LP, ‘Cheap As Art’.
In the summer of 2005 and a few days after the release of their debut, Matisse opened the first day of Greece’s most prestigious rock festival, Rockwave, for Garbage and Marilyn Manson.
In December 2006, taking a brake from the recording of their sophomore album, matisse supported the Kaiser Chiefs for their shows in Greece and warmed up the crowd in all three solid packed venues. Kaiser Chiefs also mentioned in one of their interviews to local press that matisse is one of the most interesting bands they’ve heard lately.
But what is truly interesting is the way the band has changed since their debut release. A change that is obviously portrayed throughout the songs in Toys Up.
From the first riveting chords of the album opener, Call Me, Call Me, and the binding first words “I tried to make up verses and came up with the magic spell”, up until the soothing, wash like romance of Tel Aviv (Hill Of Springs) that concludes it matisse jump head on into a new sound.
Darker and more rough around the edges this visceral new attitude has infiltrated the seemingly bright songs of the album and has inevitably embraced the deep, intensely clouded lyrics.
And that is another strong point for them, as their expressive voice takes them with ease through plane crashes, spirit invocations, agnostic queries, inner self analysis and clean cut love songs. Where do they get it from? Anywhere really.. inspiration has sprung up from news reports, Schopenhauer, Jean–Paul Sartre, Robert Powell, even the Bible.
That is, an album different than expected. Not following the feeling and pop rock sound of their debut Cheap As Art, Toys Up introduces us to another side of the band. More solid, determined and conclusively whole.
Wanna play? Get in line!
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/4/2005
Band Website: matisse.gr
Band Members: Alex (vocals) Johnny (bass, backing vocals) Greggy (guitar, synths, backing vocals) Billy (guitar) Nick (drums)

By moremusic

Influences: David Bowie, T-Rex, Roxy Music, Soft Cell...that kind of stuff

and a little video by our friend Sangeeta in the UK at the spot where Marc Bolan of T Rex left this world...Thanks Sangeeta!

Sounds Like: ...opinions are like assholes, everybody’s got one!

Record Label: SONYBMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (GREECE)
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

TOYS UP DELUXE EDITION

"Toys up" will ne re-released on Decemeber 10th on a deluxe edition. The repackage will includea bonus cd with She Bop (Gk Dark Invasion Remix). Thanx everyone for making "Toys Up" such a successful a...
Posted by matisse on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:59:00 PST

Ch-ch-changes

Apla kai lakonika. - O Aris den einai pia stous matisse. Mas eixe enimerosi gia tin prothesi toy na apoxorisei apoto sigrotima gia prosopikous toy logous apo ton Maio. Par' ola ayta, os pragmatikos fi...
Posted by matisse on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:30:00 PST

Mind The Gap Remixed By Decode

We are happy to annocunce that one of the best electropop bands in Greece, DECODE did a wonderfuljob in remixing Mind The Gap from our recently released LP, Toys Up. The remix will feature on postwave...
Posted by matisse on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 04:39:00 PST

Toys up - Available NOW on ITUNES

...so if you are digital maniac or you only like to purchase spesific songs go ahead!
Posted by matisse on Fri, 18 May 2007 11:10:00 PST

Toys Up Lyrics

TOYS UPtime to feel safe in no armson a perfect and blue dayand a hard mother's slaptoys up!toys up!time to feel sanein no shadein a dusty dark roomand an uneasy naptoys up!toys up!will you try to pla...
Posted by matisse on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 02:28:00 PST

Hit And Miss Lyrics

«There is no love in individual freedom, in independence, that's quite simply a lie, and one of the crudest lies you can imagine; love is only in the desire for annihilation, fusion, the disappearance...
Posted by matisse on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:24:00 PST

Tel Aviv Lyrics

Attention: This is NOT a political song in the strict sense. We don't like explaining our lyrics (we thing its up to the listener to interpretate as he thinks fit), however, in this case we feel we ha...
Posted by matisse on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 01:20:00 PST

Gas

Sylvia Sexton was charged with 33 counts of animal cruelty after officers found more than thirty rotting cats inside two Knoxville homes she owned. (News agencies)Anne Sexton of course was an American...
Posted by matisse on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 02:36:00 PST

5 Seconds Of Love Lyrics

5 SECONDS OF LOVEyou're like a bat that has gone blindstuck in my hair-hard on my mindyou always act before you thinkyou waste my timeeven when I sleepit's all the sameagain and againso tell me whysho...
Posted by matisse on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:21:00 PST

Call Me, Call Me Lyrics

Everyman (15th century English morality play). Called by Death, Everyman can persuade none of his friends to go with him, except Good Deeds. The play shows the hero's progression from despair and fear...
Posted by matisse on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 04:10:00 PST