The Mattson 2 - Bohsheekwo (2022)

Bohsheekwo is the result of pandemic isolation, history on the road, eight records under the belt, and it is the pinnacle of Mattson 2’s work as producers in their own right. Reflecting on what they learned working with Chaz Bear on multiple studio sessions including their most recent hit “Millenium” off of Toro Y Moi’s Mahal, the twins collage together an ecosystem of simplicity, minimalism, and lush maximalism of an almost surrealist nature. The record shifts from Lo-fi indie with crackles and pops that sound like crunching paper which then take you on a cruise to tropical Brazilian Jazz ala symphonic rock—think “Roman Blue” by Danger Mouse.

Included in the 10-song self-released LP is “Spiritual Things”, an extended, yacht-like jam session that takes its time. M2, Chaz Bear, and Anthony Ferraro (Astronauts, etc) recorded the tune together on Election Day, 2016 using Jared’s iPhone. The flagship piece “Addiction” features fellow blood-kin/ Oliver Tree producer Casey Mattson on keyboard. As the track title implies, lyrics like “the only thing I think about” and “it’s so cold inside” explore addiction of multiple kinds. While the lyrics give off a grim melancholic sense of feeling trapped, abandoned, and alone, the lush instrumental closing of the joint reminiscent of Flying Lotus/ Four Tet tells its audience everything will be ok.