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.
Slowdance
Matthew Dear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Locked in the basement
I can predict myself, running through time
Jump in the way
Help me displace it
I can't begin to tell you that everything's fine
Someone has taken me into the fire and rain
It's so strange
It's a precious head wrapped up and bound for Ghana
I can't be the one to tell you everything's wrong
It's like every bee sting, tries to make my ears ring
Let them wash your face, man
And sing you your songs
In Matthew Dear's song Slowdance, the lyrics contain a complex fusion of imagery and sentiment, inviting the listener to delve into many possible interpretations. The opening lines, "Here we go rouse, locked in the basement," suggest a sense of captivity, perhaps physical, emotional or psychological. The phrase "I can predict myself, running through time," implies a prophetic quality, hinting at the inevitability of certain events unfoldments. The refrain "Help me displace it, I can't begin to tell you that everything's fine," creates an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty, indicative of internal struggles and conflicts.
The verse continues with "someone has taken me into the fire and rain, it's like a potion, unleashes fever, it's so strange." This phrase is highly symbolic, evoking transformative experiences and the power of mystic elements. The use of the word "fever" creates a sense of feverish longing or desire, while the surreal imagery of "fire and rain" suggests a state of being caught between extremes. The following lines, "It's a precious head wrapped up and bound for Ghana, I can't be the one to tell you everything's wrong," add another layer of mystery, as the reference to Ghana suggests themes related to African culture and spirituality.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take on an increasingly surreal quality, with references to "every bee sting, tries to make my ears ring" and "let them wash your face, man, and sing you your songs." These lines can be interpreted as suggesting the idea of purification and transformation, where painful experiences are like bee stings that lead to growth and realization. The image of washing the face and singing songs also imply a process of cleansing and healing.
Overall, the lyrics of Slowdance by Matthew Dear put forth an enigmatic and multi-layered exploration of themes of captivity, transformation, and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go rouse
We are about to begin stirring things up
Locked in the basement
There is no escape from this situation
I can predict myself, running through time
I can see myself moving forward in time and predicting what might happen
Jump in the way
Intervene to prevent something from happening
Help me displace it
Assist me in removing and moving away from what's troubling me
I can't begin to tell you that everything's fine
Things aren't really fine, even though I can't quite find the words to describe why
Someone has taken me into the fire and rain
I've been led into a dangerous and unpredictable situation
It's like a potion, unleashes fever
It's a powerful force that has the potential to cause chaos
It's so strange
This situation is extremely unusual and difficult to make sense of
It's a precious head wrapped up and bound for Ghana
Something valuable is being guarded and protected
I can't be the one to tell you everything's wrong
I'm not the one who can deliver the bad news or admit when things are going poorly
It's like every bee sting, tries to make my ears ring
The pain is so intense that it's affecting my senses and cognition
Let them wash your face, man
Allow others to help cleanse you and rid you of your troubles
And sing you your songs
Help remind you of the things that bring you joy and comfort
Contributed by Hudson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alanngarcia.s
Here we go rouse
Locked in the basement
I can predict myself, running through time
Jump in the way
Help me displace it
I can't begin to tell you that everything's fine
Someone has taken me into the fire and rain
It's like a potion, unleashes fever
It's so strange
It's a precious head wrapped up and bound for Ghana
I can't be the one to tell you everything's wrong
It's like every bee sting, tries to make my ears ring
Let them wash your face, man
And sing you your songs
@TheMarcobott
Innovative song. This artist found a way to make all the sounds come together very well. If you only listen to it once you might not end up liking it. But if you listen a few times and look for the subtleties, you will quickly find the brilliance.
@lepetitebird
One of my favorite songs. (:
@jesusnoize2637
chingona
:)
@erikpuzanov4074
Thank you for the amazing piece, man. The emotions and the character felt by this track are amazing. I was never able to find anything similar. Perfect for late night skating. You are the host of a few great hours in a month I get to spend relaxed, always listening to this on repeat. You have my eternal gratitude for your music.
@natalieclarke9068
My heart beats to this beat..love it
@Dreouu
Masterpiece
@M0_z
ppl don't recognize good music
@alanngarcia.s
Here we go rouse
Locked in the basement
I can predict myself, running through time
Jump in the way
Help me displace it
I can't begin to tell you that everything's fine
Someone has taken me into the fire and rain
It's like a potion, unleashes fever
It's so strange
It's a precious head wrapped up and bound for Ghana
I can't be the one to tell you everything's wrong
It's like every bee sting, tries to make my ears ring
Let them wash your face, man
And sing you your songs
@calebsherman886
Wizard skating
@serxram
excellent