Matrix – Sleepwalk

After over 30 yrs in Jungle I will say this about Sleepwalk;
This IS the best DNB album that's been.

Not-so-fun-fact: Matrix even skipped a track "Acces" because Matt Optical didn't liked it....... (the bastard!)

Funk, drumfunk, neuro, apache and works as a whole piece, It IS and will be a special 1-off.

All in all a seminal album from Matrix, "Asylum" is the track here, with it's twisty groove and clean drums. "Destiny" and "Junction" are a couple of non-DNB tracks with some jazz influences, "Temperament" is a real dance floor killer with it's funky bass, and the title track "Sleepwalk" makes you dream of electric sheep. Overall good work from the brother of the bassline master Optical.

Sleepwalk is a typical Drum & Bass album. The beats are tight and it contains some tunes that will sound decent in a DJ set. But that’s about it. There isn’t anything very new about this release and it lacks originality. Released on Virus in 2000, the sound is very similar to Ed Rush’s Wormhole, who came up with the idea two years before. It’s dark and has some clever bass lines, but the range of the style of songs is limited. Temperament, Six and Apache are the stand out tracks and they still sound good ten years on. Perhaps releasing an album came a bit too early for Matrix. This album cut down to four songs on two 12” maybe would have been a better idea. Although, having said all that, there isn’t anything that bad with this album, it just isn’t one that will stay in the mind for that long. Worth having if you’re into the Drum & Bass, but if you never hear it, you’re not really missing out on anything special.

I love Sleepwalk for its top-notch production and the distinct sound that Matrix gave to all the tracks. The album has been in my bag at the moments that I went out to studio headphones and monitor speakers. It's almost bizarre to hear how skillfully Matrix placed all sounds, frequencies and effects, giving them both individual room as well as providing one coherent piece of music.

On a more musical side, Apache and Temperament are just pure killer tracks that feel like they're trying to hide away layers of infinite anger and darkness. On other moments, the jazz during Gap The Mind and downbeat during Angel give this album the extra's to keep it very interesting for long listening sessions. Very much adviced.

This is one of the best drum'n'bass CDs i own. Well balanced between dark and jazzy, with phat breaks all over it and the Matrix' trademark huge basses. Featuring the classic 'Apache'.
Matrix is known for never releasing a weak tune, so get this NOW.