Eluvium When I Live By the Gardern and the Sea Label: Temporary Residence Release Date:08/22/2006

Only Matthew Cooper could take a sample from Tom Hanks’ 1989 vehicle The ‘Burbs and paste it into a song in a convincing manner. Cooper does just this on “As I Drift Off,” the second song on the new Eluvium EP, When I Live By The Garden And The Sea. After Hanks delivers a intense monologue on suburban paranoia, the song falls into Cooper’s patented wave of feedback and shimmering keys. In this context, the sample speaks volumes. On this companion EP to last year’s Talk Amongst The Trees, all the trademarks of Cooper’s best work are present. While naming that album one of my favorite records of 2005, I referred to Cooper as the new king of ambient. Far from a filler release, When I Live.. backs up my claim.

“I Will Not Forget That I Have Forgotten” echoes the styling of 2004’s piano-only release, An Accidental Memory In The Case Of Death. All the sounds that have been explored on the previous Eluvium releases seem to be highlighted here. On the aforementioned “As I Drift Off” and the beautiful “All The Sails,” Cooper is at the top of his game. No one in music right now is crafting walls of sound so moving, so graceful. All of these songs would have fit perfectly on Talk Amongst The Trees. It has been a treat watching Cooper’s music progress and I look forward to his next step.

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