Abrasive Trees

Abrasive Trees have been described as ’stunning’ (BBC Introducing), ‘a transcendent experience of euphoric dissonance’ (Post-Punk.com) and ‘perfectly evocative’ (Aural Aggravation).  Their musical creations, led by Matthew Rochford, display a willingness to experiment alongside a sound that sits loosely within the post-punk aesthetic with definite influences from post-rock, folk and psychedelia.  More accurately though they are the expressions of an inner world that is at times intense, but ultimately hopeful.  Rochford’s lyrics and music connect with themes of the spiritual, the fragility of our psyche, and attempts to convey what is ultimately inexpressible.

The project has received creative input from Jo-Beth Young (Talitha Rise/RISE), Mark Beazley (Rothko), Steven Hill (Evi Vine), Ben Roberts (Evi Vine/Prosthetic Head/Silver Moth), Jay Newton (Quiet Quiet Band), Peter Yates (Fields of The Nephilim), Sebastian Swarm (Lunacy), Laurence Collyer (Diamond Family Archive), Jerome Hitchens (Kuki and The Bard), Nadia Abdelaziz (RISE) and Sebastian Rochford (Pulled By Magnets/Polar Bear/Patti Smith). Videos to accompany each release have been created by the visual artist Jess Wooller.

Multi-instrumentalist (guitar, E-bow, dulcimer, bass, drum programmes) and singer, Matthew has himself played on a variety of releases and live with Jo Beth Young (RISE/Talitha Rise), and Rothko. He’s recently worked with Elisabeth Elektra, Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), Ash Babb (Academy of Sun) and Evi Vine recording an album in the outer Hebrides. 

Originally from Aberdeen but of Asian/English heritage, he mainly works from his home studio and from Matthew Board and Lucy Board’s Penquit Mill studio in South Devon.

Press

“a transcendent experience of euphoric dissonance”

Post-Punk.com

“a colossal slab of melancholic melodies, harmonies, arpeggiated chord progressions, and other post-punk/psych-rock delicacies”

Words Thoughts Action

“I was mesmerised”

MusoMuso

“a stunning, grungy, moody debut”

BBC Introducing

“a sonic narrative, with intricate layers of wandering bass and spectral guitar melodies that give way to gliding flourishes, bringing forth an atmospheric song whose echoing vocals haunt every moment”

Post-Punk.com

“emerging from a thick atmospheric mist, ‘Bound for an Infinite Sea’ has gothic overtones, with picked guitars echoing out over a deep, rumbling bass. With hints of early Cure, Skeletal Family and Salvation, it broods through shadowy shapes in a fashion that’s perfectly evocative of the early 80s post-punk sound, but it’s also spun with an ethereality that owes as much to the 4AD roster and 90s shoegaze”

Aural Aggravation

“it's gorgeous, it's sweet, it's melodic, it's moody, it's beautiful, it's all things. Music straight from the heart”

Artgalore

“excellent British experimental post-punk”

FV Music Blog

“a great and moody track”

Darkness Calling

“eclipses the sun with a thick mist of rumbling notes, echoing guitars and spectral vocals. Through this thick musical soundscape, glimmers of positive energy flit past you before you are again covered by the unrelenting ambient soundscape”

The Other Side Reviews

“evocative flowing tunes tease out emotions and aspirations and keep you reaching for the 'repeat' button”

ArtsCulture Mag