The follow up to 2005’s intense and haunting ‘SirenWire69’ sees Matthews further develop her unusual musical sensibilities. The equally effective and engaging ‘Bruiser’ is in some ways a more startling accomplishment than it’s predecessor with new instruments and musical styles added to the experimental mix. From the out and out industrial barrage of ‘Hushed Corrosive’, to the sinister undertow of ‘Lifelore’, this cd winds it’s way through the medieval-esque folk recorders of ‘Fortune’, insistent rhythmic guitars of ‘Flinch’, hypnotic piano of ‘Ellipse-Dream’ and the gentle beauty of ‘Summer’s Over’, all bookended by the fragile sadness of ‘Mbox’ and ‘Mbox 2’ ‘Bruiser’ is an impressively diverse collection of musical experimentations. A starkly personal exploration that challenges you to uncover it’s secrets over multiple listens. It’s hardly surprising then that 2006 has proven to be a hugely significant year for Matthews. Her work has bee...