MD Matheson’s 4th Beef Terminal release is brought to you by Hamilton-based Worthy records (music for listening rather than profit). Crosscheck and Departure contains a mixed bag of 8 previously unreleased recordings from 1999-2000 as well as 2 new songs (“Total Destruction� and “In Control (For Now))�, and the resulting audio mishmash is a CD’s worth of beautiful scrapbook guitars + drum machines collages. Beef Terminal’s sound is particularly unique because the guitar plays such a big part of the BT sound. This is very much a guitar record, but the guitar is juxtaposed against ambient and drum machine soundscapes in the background. In this case, the combination of sounds equals stunning results. While listening to this CD of “time stands still� music I envision myself gazing out a window on a grey, cool rainy day. Crosscheck & Departure is a slow trickle down the outside of a window pane while the inside starts to patch up with fog... This is “in between� music. You feel as if each track could fall apart at any minute because the arrangements are so bare bones, but MD Matheson’s clever and careful compositions remain stable all throughout this record. They don’t fall off. The opening track, “Forgiven� sets the mood of the record perfectly, television and radio static barely audible through slow plotting layers of dreamlike guitars. Track #2 “The Hell in Hello�, is a transcendental ghost walk with whispy swirling electronic hi-hats, a ticking clock beat and swelling clean and feedbacking guitars filling up the background. Track #7 “Tag�, is a beautiful guitar piece - no beats - just a delicate web of intertwining twinkling talking guitars. The closing track #10 “Palm Sunday�, is the perfect bookend to “Forgiven� to close off the CD. Ambient droning guitars, quiet synths and empty static transmissions. A highly recommended late night listen.

By L Pounds
Jan 17, 2005