Interbellum
Berlin, Germany | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | INDIE
Music
Press
"The effect is that of a music box grown sentient, breaking from the programmed jingle to communicate more sincerely, with human heart." - Various Small Flames
"A beautiful discovery." - Indie For Bunnies (Italian)
“[Mattar’s] melodic skills and knack for a stop-you-in-your-tracks lyric shine through once again.” - Arab News
“A series of ten songs with unique atmospheres, evoking at once childhood, love and nostalgia in a uniform mosaic”
L’Orient Le Jour - L'Orient Le Jour (French)
“Interbellum has made our list of Favorite Discoveries of 2018. Take a listen and you will understand why." - The Revue
“‘Ink’ is an irresistibly dreamy, warm and inviting companion filled with a heart-swelling sentiment and all configured in the catchiest arrangement possible.” - Barry Gruff
'Ready To Dissolve' is the loveliest indie pop confection you’ll hear all year. - mp3hugger
“Hallelujah. When you hear “Ink”, the sun rises… And the text is a little revelation” - We Love That Sound (German)
Sonically lush with effected guitars painting pretty pictures. Psychedelic music breaks take the song down enchanted rabbit holes. - American Pancake
'Ready To Dissolve' is a highlight off the album and a true showcase of their winning lo-fi formula that sounds like a dreamy mix of Yo La Tengo and Luna. - We All Want Someone To Shout For
Named one of 5 Middle Eastern bands to check out - GQ Middle East
"Interbellum's songs are driven by a poppy lo-fi sound, exciting songwriting, a dose of dissonance and lots of little catchy hooks." - I Can Guarantee (German)
“A dizzying kaleidoscopic foray into memory, through 10 lo-fi pop rock gems” - Project Revolver
“Dead Pets, Old Griefs is a real find, an insider's tip that has earned a lot of publicity.” - Lie In The Sound (German)
"Ready to Dissolve is a wonderful slice of downbeat indie guitar pop" - Doubtful Sounds
"A staggering work from a name worth remembering" - Heartbreaking Bravery
"Dead Pets, Old Griefs is a bold step forward" - Arab News
"A mature undertaking that clearly stems from years of experience and experimentation." - Scene Noise
Named one of the best alternative Lebanese albums - Beehype
"A lovely little record" - Gold Flake Paint
Named one of the best 15 alternative releases from Lebanon - The Wire
Discography
Dead Pets, Old Griefs (2018, Ruptured/Cargo Records)
Now Try Coughing (2016, self-released)
Photos
Bio
Interbellum is the musical project of Lebanese singer-songwriter Karl Mattar. The project blends elements of noise pop, folk and garage rock into an idiosyncratic mix centered around Mattar's songwriting.
Latest album Dead Pets, Old Griefs (2018, Ruptured/Cargo Records) was recorded with producer and long-time collaborator Fadi Tabbal at Tunefork Studios, Beirut.
It features 10 songs that revolve around themes of memory, time, childhood, and loss. Apocalyptic imagery - real, imagined and figurative - permeates the album, and the instrumentation follows suit, warping, distorting and folding on itself. The record plays like a broken music box, its kaleidoscopic melodic songs disjointed and smeared by noise, dissonance and processed sounds.
The project and album have made best-of lists in the Arab world and beyond, receiving praise from publications like Gold Flake Paint, The Wire and GQ Middle East among many others.
Interbellum previously self-released the guitar- driven Now Try Coughing (2016). Mattar has also released folk albums under the name Charlie Rayne. Both projects have been staples of Wickerpark Festival, the leading indie festival in the Middle East.
Band Members
Links
