Matan Zohar aka Mat Zo, to his fans is one of the most talented, versatile & upcoming DJ/producers in dance music. His name has been ever frequently brought up in the realms of trance and progressive house, but some may not know that the 23-year-old has also dabbled in some drum n’ bass under the MRSA moniker, exhibiting his flamboyant ability to diversify his productions and branch out, rather than pigeonholing himself to one style of music. The story of his full-length debut album, ‘Damage Control’ released on Anjunabeats seems to be the same, coming at us as a plethora of surprises.

“When I set out to write my album, I wanted to bring together all the different forms of dance music that had influenced me most over the years”, Zo told Rolling Stone. His everlasting disregard for being bound by genres is quickly made apparent with the first track of the album, “Superman Lost” which serves as an ambient, hypnotic introduction to the album. Dazzling vocals and stunning sprinkled synths float around in the foreground before turning the track on its head with the introduction of heavier sounds, and just before it sounds like it’s about to drop into something truly magnificent, it ends much too quickly for our liking.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/superman-lost/s-5NeKN

Moving ahead as the ending of the intro dawns upon us, we’re buried in the incredible “Only For You”, an abundant dose of electro-funk featuring the spellbinding vocals of Rachel K. Collier. Equally outstanding vocals follow in “Easy“, Zo’s collaboration with Porter Robinson which has the remarkable capacity to pack arenas with its colossal sound. The track’s dynamic kick and enchanting chords along with Robinson’s trademark electro infused squelches have taken it to the prime festival material level ever since its release.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/only-for-you/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/easy/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

Next up comes “Caller ID”, which has a dub influence with a hint of trap. Packed with Indian influences, which create an exotic and sensual tone the track boasts of a slow and deep bass undertone. While various hip-hop samples break up the melodiousness of the music, as the song carries on, additional sounds are layered in which further increase the complexity of the track.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/caller-id/s-5NeKN

The next track, “Little Damage” starts with a flute backed sound, which is soon joined by a drum kit. As the sound of the flute circles around the track, a funky melody joins in adding to the party. Quick to build up and fade out, this song really acts as an intermission between two very different styled songs.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/little-damage/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

A previously released single, “Pyramid Scheme” is next on the menu and features Chuck D. The track abruptly picks up the energy level of the album. With an amazing build, the track breaks into fast paced dance music enhanced by occasional voiceovers.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/pyramid-scheme/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

“The Sky”, featuring Linnea Schossow, bends towards the more placid side of the dance spectrum, shifting the focus to Schossow’s breathy vocals. After about a minute of steady swirling instrumentals, the track takes off and turns into a heavy, upbeat trance melody. The reverberating beat resounds in your bones, further escalating the wave of emotions brought to the shore by this magical track.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/the-sky/s-5NeKN

Without hesitation, “Time On Your Side”, featuring Janai kicks of with a tribal beat which builds into another catchy house infused track. More inclined towards the pop side of things than the majority of the album, the track features motivational lyrics and a beautiful melody. Janai’s vocals go perfectly in sync with the track, impressively flowing over the instruments and bass.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/time-on-your-side/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

From such a mellow song, “Lucid Dream” once again takes the listener back into the more fast-paced space. The track starts with repetitive vocals and a deep bass undertone when all of a sudden, the atmosphere changes into a light mood and begins to pick up into higher notes.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/lucid-dreams/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

A different, yet alluring version of “EZ” makes its way to the listeners ears later on in the album, which is more melodic and garage-like in nature. “Fall Into Dreams” stands out because of its use of a male vocalist in Pete Josef, who improvises over soothing guitar strings and atmospheric sound, quite ingeniously.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/mat-zo-ez/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/fall-into-dreams/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

The beginning of “Hurricane” evokes a delightfully deep and resounding quality, building anticipation. Dissolving into ultra smooth bass drops, Eyes That Lie’s voice compliments the dark, but beautiful tone before the heavy sounds are stripped, leaving the vocals to be the main attraction of the track. As the track picks up once again, various instrumentals repeatedly layer in and taper off until only acoustic guitar riffs remain, slowly departing away from the song.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/hurricane/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

To round up this masterpiece, “Time Dilation” begins post an extended pause, launching into a dreamy, melodic track that lures the listener into a entranced state with its slow build. All of a sudden, resounding chords radiate through the track before launching into a astonishing fast-paced rhythm. The backbone of the song however, still remains ethereal and calm, leading to a natural transition between the two states throughout the song. Bringing forth truly positive emotions, this is the perfect track to end the album.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/time-dilation/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

A gratifying aspect about ‘Damage Control’ is the sublime use of interludes, such as “Like It Used To Be” and “Moderate Stimulation”; which rather than putting listeners through a full marathon of festival anthems and big tracks, help break the album up a little, giving listeners time to bethink before jumping back into the diverse well of sound Zo creates.

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/like-it-used-to-be/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

https://soundcloud.com/mat_zo/moderate-stimulation/s-5NeKN#t=0:00

All in all, the entire album feels like one extended song, rising with high energy before easing down for a moment of quiet contemplation. Surely an album that can be played over and over again without feeling stale a vital quality which adds value to the masterpiece and helps achieve longevity.

If the album is any indicator of the direction Mat Zo’s headed in musically, we absolutely can’t wait to see what else he has in store for us!

Get it now on Beatport or iTunes!