Reed Mathis and Electric Beethoven are back with a new single. Reed Mathis, Todd Stoops, Clay Welch and Josh Raymer adapted a portion of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony for the single “The Fifth,” out today on Color Red.
“Electric Beethoven is four close friends who like to improvise together in the groove, and enjoy inhabiting the songwriting of Beethoven,” said Mathis. “Our goal is to call back to Earth the ghosts that lie dormant in these old tunes. Kinda sounds like MMW, but less avant & with prettier melodies…..Closer to instrumental Beastie Boys. This song ‘The Fifth’ turned out exactly as I’d hoped……funky, moody, stoney, and you wanna start it over every time you get to the end.”
Reed produced the single, which was recorded by Mike Tallman at Color Red Studios in Denver. Jeff Franca mixed the track. “The Fifth” is the first of a new series of Beethoven’s greatest hits that Electric Beethoven recorded in Denver last fall. An album is expected “soon.” Listen to Electric Beethoven’s “The Fifth” below:
Here’s more about the track:
What would happen if Beethoven were to present lead sheets to an all-star lineup of the heaviest hitters on today’s jam scene? Reed Mathis conquers the task in his fresh approach to tackling Beethoven’s 5th Symphony aptly titled “The Fifth.” Dubby textures pave the way for blissful organ fills and canonic improvisation. The true beauty in Mathis’ interpretation lies in both spatial and textural awareness of all moving parts—all musicians are free to craft their role within the song without ever “soloing” or blandly noodling over the rhythm section. Tension and release is epitomized in a pensive breakdown before pivoting back to the iconic “A” section that simmers down with the intent to make the audience resonate with a brand new sonic experience unlike anything else. “Fate knocking at your door”….that’s how the iconic opening notes of Beethoven’s 5th were described when they were first heard 200 years ago. No one could have known that fate would lead to the irresistible groove of Electric Beethoven.
Electric Beethoven will return to the road later this year.
