Depending on whom you ask, Matthew Dear (born in Kingsville, Texas, USA) is… Read Full Bio ↴Depending on whom you ask, Matthew Dear (born in Kingsville, Texas, USA) is a DJ, a dance-music producer, an experimental pop artist, a bandleader. He co-founded both Ghostly International and its dancefloor offshoot, Spectral Sound. He’s had remixes commissioned by The xx, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Spoon, Hot Chip, The Postal Service and The Chemical Brothers; he’s made mixes for the Fabric mix series and Get Physical’s Body Language. He maintains four aliases (Audion, False, Jabberjaw, and Matthew Dear), each with its own style and distinct visual identity. He straddles multiple musical worlds and belongs to none — and he’s just hitting his stride.

Dear’s first single was 1999’s "Hands Up For Detroit" (co-produced by ghettotech pioneer Disco D, who performed under the name Daisha). Successive singles, such as "Stealing Moves" and the chart-topping "Mouth to Mouth" (as Audion) were issued on Spectral Sound, Ghostly’s offshoot that focuses on dancefloor music.

Matthew Dear’s 2003 full-length Ghostly debut, "Leave Luck to Heaven", is a suite of sparse, wickedly funky house laced with Dear’s deep, distinctive vocals, and includes the much-loved single “Dog Days” (voted one of Pitchfork’s Top 100 Songs of the decade). The record was met with rapturous acclaim from both the dance-music establishment and the critical press, including a four-star review in Rolling Stone. Dear’s 2007 follow-up, "Asa Breed", is a considerable departure from Heaven’s dancefloor excursions, incorporating the polyrhythms of afrobeat, the irreverent pop sensibilities of Brian Eno, and the austere beauty of krautrock. More four-stars reviews followed (Q and Mojo magazines), and Dear subsequently began touring with a live three-piece band, Matthew Dear’s Big Hands, in which he acted as frontman, commanding the stage with a Bryan Ferry-like swagger and a gentleman’s grace.

Today, Matthew Dear finds himself in a unique position. His highly anticipated fourth album, 2010’s Black City, is the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation, a darkly playful sound-world that envelops the listener like the arms of a malevolent lover. After over a decade of exploring pop’s outer limits, Matthew Dear now inhabits a rarefied corner of the musical universe: no longer tethered to any one genre, respected by his peers, and blessed with a bottomless well of creative energy. Now is Matthew Dear’s moment, and it sounds like nothing else.

Death to Feelers
Matthew Dear Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

An emotion overlooked
I had calluses on my hands
I've been dealing with extreme gravity
They met so far away
I thought this would last so long
He answered in some fine response
Swim away, off to the second shelf

I was supposed to make grand observations
But I've lost my train of thought

She says his focus has been replaced with laughter
This is the path I have chosen to walk

Overall Meaning

In "Death to Feelers" by Matthew Dear, the lyrics present a theme of emotional detachment and a sense of disillusionment with the world. The opening lines suggest the point of view character has become accustomed to not feeling emotions, as the phrase "an emotion overlooked" implies a state of indifference. The lines "I had calluses on my hands / I've been dealing with extreme gravity" give the impression of someone who is working hard, but not necessarily getting much gratification from it.

The tone of the song then shifts to a refrain about a relationship that has dissolved. The phrase "they met so far away" evokes the image of two people once in love, now distant from each other. The line "I thought this would last so long" reveals the singer's regret and confusion at the relationship's ending, and "he answered in some fine response / swim away, off to the second shelf" captures both the sense of defiance and resignation to the separation.

The final lines, "I was supposed to make grand observations / but I've lost my train of thought / she says his focus has been replaced with laughter / this is the path I have chosen to walk" bring everything together to show the character's state of mind. The singer had lofty goals for themselves, but has been distracted or discouraged from achieving them, leading to a sense of stagnation or loss of direction. The mention of someone else's laughter being the replacement for focus is notable, as it implies that joy and frivolity have taken priority over more serious matters.

Line by Line Meaning

An emotion overlooked
An overlooked feeling that may have gone unnoticed or unacknowledged

I had calluses on my hands
The physical manifestation of hard work and dedication that has been put in over time

I've been dealing with extreme gravity
A metaphorical reference to the intensity of the situation or feelings, which are weighing heavily on the singer

They met so far away
A reference to two people, who met at a distant place, reflecting a lack of closeness

I thought this would last so long
A feeling of hope or expectation that something would persist for a longer duration

He answered in some fine response
A response given politely or diplomatically

Swim away, off to the second shelf
A reference to escaping or distancing oneself from a situation or person

I was supposed to make grand observations
A feeling of responsibility to make significant observations or contributions to the situation

But I've lost my train of thought
The inability to retain a thought or idea due to being sidetracked or overwhelmed

She says his focus has been replaced with laughter
Someone has lost their concentration or seriousness, and diverted their attention to something less crucial or less impactful

This is the path I have chosen to walk
A statement about the singer's determination or resolve to stay on a particular course, even in challenging times

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