Matthew J. Tow

Matthew J. Tow is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Perhaps best known as the singer and guitarist of 1990s Sydney indie band Drop City, Tow currently fronts international neo-psychedelic rockers the Lovetones.

Matthew J. Tow
Tow performing in 2013
Background information
Also known asMatt Tow
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar, sitar, autoharp, bass guitar, keyboards, glockenspiel
Years active1991–present
Associated actsThe Lovetones, Brian Jonestown massacre, Colorsound

Rolling Stone hailed Tow's songwriting as being worthy of Ray Davies, Bowie, Lennon and McCartney.[1]

Splash

Tow's first experience as a recording artist came with early 1990s Sydney indie band Splash (which also included singer-songwriter Gavin Mclean), who released a four-track EP titled Pendulum in 1991. The Tow–Mclean songwriting partnership would spill over onto early Drop City releases.

Drop City

Tow formed Drop City (also known as Drop City Three) in Sydney, Australia, at the beginning of 1993.[2] Later that year they recorded their first album A Revolution Of Purely Private Expectations which was released on the Red Eye label through Polydor in 1994. Two more albums were to follow; Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and, Chiaroscuro. After four albums, a handful of EPs, two Big Day Out appearances and tour support for artists such as the Stone Roses, Stereolab, Yo La Tengo and Manic Street Preachers, Drop City disbanded in late 2000 amid what Tow described as a 'tidal wave of indifference'.[3]

Drop City Discography:

Album Year Label
A Revolution Of Purely Private Expectations 1994 Red Eye Records, Polydor
Magic Transistor Radio 1995 Red Eye Records, Polydor
This Heavenly Machine 1997 Red Eye Records, Polydor
Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow 1999 Third Stone
The New Situation 2000 Rayman Recordings

Colorsound

In 1994, Tow recorded a solo album You’re Only As Good As Your Sound under the moniker of Colorsound which was picked up by Summershine Records in Australia. The following year it was released in the US on Sub Pop. He has since released a further four albums in this guise.[4] These releases are typically instrumental and experimental.

Colorsound Discography:

Album Year Label
You're Only As Good As Your Sound 1994 Summershine Records
Soundtrack for an Imaginary Life 1998 Spaceage Recordings
Auspicious Beginnings 2001 Third Stone
You're Only As Good As Your Sound 2002 Rayman Recordings
Kaleides into Me 2003 Rayman Recordings
A Higher Station 2004 Rayman Recordings

Brian Jonestown Massacre

In 2003, Tow had the opportunity to join long-time friend Anton Newcombe and his San Francisco–based psychedelic outfit the Brian Jonestown massacre, touring the US and the UK with them for three months as a guitarist. He also contributed two songs to their 2003 album ...And This is Our Music. Tow's opening track "Starcleaner" later also appeared on the BJM retrospective Tepid Peppermint Wonderland.

The Lovetones

The Lovetones released their debut album, Be What You Want, in 2002 through Bomp! Records. The album was reviewed in Creem and Rolling Stone magazine. The second album, Meditations, was released through New York's Tee Pee Records in late 2005. Returning from shows in the US in late 2005 and also at SXSW 2006, The Lovetones toured to support Meditations' Australian release in May 2006. In June 2006 The Lovetones completed a European tour across 12 countries with The Brian Jonestown Massacre in support of Meditations, released there through Tee Pee/Cargo Records, culminating in an album review in respected UK magazine Uncut. The Lovetones performed a reunion show in Sydney on 31 July 2015.

The Lovetones also recorded their third album, Axiom, during 2006 with sessions split between Figment Studios in Hollywood and the Sydney Opera House Recording Studio. The new album was released in June 2007 through Tee Pee Records.

The Lovetones Discography:

Album Year Label
Be What You Want 2003 Committee To Keep Music Evil (U.S.) / Yep! Records (Aus)
Meditations 2005 Tee Pee Records (U.S.) / Yep! Records (Aus)
Axiom 2007 Tee Pee Records (U.S.) / Yep! Records (Aus)
Dimensions 2009 Planting Seeds Records (U.S.)
Lost 2010 Planting Seeds Records (U.S.)
Provenance – Collected Works 2012 Yep! Records, Undercover Music (Aus)

Personal life

Tow is married and lives in Sydney, Australia.

His first solo album, The Way of Things, was released in February 2013 and the follow up 'Shadows' Reign' released in 2016 by Xemu Records

References
  1. Rolling Stone Australia 2002 – http://www.thelovetones.com/reviews.html
  2. Drop City Biography – http://www.amo.org.au/artist.asp?id=1495
  3. An Interview with Matt Tow – http://www.ozmusicproject.net/magazine/interview.asp?int=123
  4. Colorsound Discography – http://www.adasam.plus.com/rayman/idx1.htm
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