When I hear the name Matra, I immediately think of the French brand's former Formula 1 and sports cars, which already looked very avant-garde in the 1970s and were very successful with rather simple technology. This almost decodes the Italian band. The Milan-based band sounds simultaneously proto and retro; proto in terms of simplicity: we simplify the music to a few chords and anticipate punk, and retro in terms of style; we have a bag full of 1960s styles to wear and don't know how to get rid of them. Thus, the band lurches between retro and proto, which, while interesting in itself, ultimately becomes predictable after two or three songs. We've already reserved space on our playlist for one or two songs like "Graven Words," which is reminiscent of the Canadian band "Triumph," or the opener "Telepathic Breakdown." If you like Dead Moon or Danava, you'll probably enjoy Matra as well.
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