10 Albums Recorded In Bizarre Locations
9. A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure - Matmos
Baltmore-based experimental electronic duo Matmos, aka Martin Schmidt and Drew Daniel, will be best known to some thanks to their frequent collaborations with the singer Björk. Under their own moniker, alongside a roster of guest artists, Matmos have released twelve studio albums so far. Never less than interesting and sacrificing nothing at the altar of commercialism, for their fourth long-player, 2001's A Chance To Cut Is A Chance To Cure, the band explored territory almost certainly never before trod by any in the music world.
A concept album of sorts, for this set Schmidt and Daniel took the extreme step of donning medical masks and gowns, powering up their DAT recorders and dropping in on live medical procedures to capture genuine sounds of sawing, drilling and all manner of unpleasant things. From liposuctions to nose-jobs, these samples form the backbone (excuse the pun) of A Chance To Cut Is A Chance To Cure.
The record makes for a surprisingly fun and upbeat listen, and there are moments of genuine pathos, not least the oddly poignant track, For Felix (And All The Rats), the main components of which are created by using an actual rat cage for an instrument.