Matthew Larkin Cassell is an American songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and writer. His songwriting style has been described as a fusion of funk, R&B, jazz and pop. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Cassell has made numerous appearances in the Bay Area and European tours throughout his formative years as a musician.
Cassell is best known for his original, privately pressed vinyl recordings from the 1970s and 1980s: the LP Pieces from 1977, the EP, Matt The Cat released in 1978, and the untitled 45 released in 1980. Cassell has seen a revival of interest in his music through the internet, rare vinyl and beat collectors, worldwide. Copies of his original records have exceeded $1,300.[1]
The re-discovery of Cassell's recordings were covered in The Huffington Post.[2] Joel Selvin of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote[3] of Cassell’s re-emergence, “A 21st century digital fairy tale,” and Cassell's first interview with Paul Liberatore of the Marin Independent Journal.[4]
First re-emerging in re-release through compilation on, The Kings of Digging[5] compilation helmed by the DJ team Kon & Amir, recording artists Madlib, MF Doom, and People Under The Stairs and others have since sampled Cassell’s early recordings.
Portions of Cassell’s catalogue have been re-issued by the Blues Interactions / P-Vine label in Japan, Rapster Records in Berlin, and the BBE label in London, and is currently signed to the Stones Throw[6] label in Los Angeles. His complete works are to be released by Stones Throw on May 17, 2010.
Cassell resides, records, and performs in Northern California.
Discography
- 1977 Pieces 12" (private press) LP (Limited Release 300 copies)
- 1978 Matt The Cat 12" (private press) EP
- 1980 Untitled, w/kid picture 7" (private press) 45 single
- 2006 Reissue "In My Life" appears on Kings of 'Diggin' CD, Kon/Amir, Rapster Records, Berlin/BBE, London
- 2007 Reissue "Heaven" Single 7" Off Track Kon/Amir, BBE, London
- 2008 Privatepress4 12" (private press) EP single
- 2008 Reissue - 2 CDs- Pieces & Matt The Cat/45 Untitled P-Vine / Blues Interactions label, Tokyo
- 2010 Reissue Complete Catalogue Vinyl (2x) & CD, Stones Throw, Los Angeles
References
- ^ Popsike.com
- ^ Werman, Daniel (May 24, 2010). "The Best Music You've Never Heard: 30 Years Later - Matthew Larkin Cassell". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
- ^ "'Pieces' coming together 30 years later - SFGate". Archived from the original on 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
- ^ Liberatore, Paul (May 21, 2008). "Mill Valley musician Matthew Larkin Cassell making waves 30 years after his heyday". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
- ^ "Kon & Amir and DJ Muro - The Kings of Diggin' : BBE Records - Barely Breaking Even". Bbemusic.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
- ^ "Matthew Larkin Cassell | The Complete Works | Stones Throw Records". Stonesthrow.com. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
Further reading
- Werman, Daniel (September 16, 2008). "Crate Digging Gold: Matthew Larkin Cassell". Jamsbio megazine. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13.
External links
- An Interview with Matthew Larkin Cassell on WhoSampled.com
- Matthew Larkin Cassell discography at Discogs
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