Reed Mathis & Electric Beethoven Release Long-Awaited Double Album ‘Hear No Evil’

Reed Mathis and Electric Beethoven’s highly anticipated new album, Hear No Evil, arrived today via Color Red. The double LP sees the group led by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Reed Mathis interpreting some of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s most well-known compositions.

Press materials for Hear No Evil detailed some of those reimaginings:

While the band’s previous albums consisted of deeper cuts in Beethoven’s vast volume of repertoire, Hear No Evil focuses on six of Beethoven’s most famous and well-known tunes. “Elise” gives Beethoven’s piano method book standard “Für Elise” a funky facelift and dance floor makeover. “The Path” uses Piano Sonata No.8 best known as “Pathétique,” as its muse as Mathis envisions a present-times scene of the 1994 film Immortal Beloved where Beethoven, portrayed by Gary Oldman, comes to terms with his hearing loss. “Moonlight Sonata” puts Mathis and company’s dark and dreamy imprint on the classic Beethoven sonata. As a skillful musicologist and researcher, he notes that the chord progression is a direct inspiration behind classics ranging from The Beatles’ “Because” to Radiohead’s “Exit Music For a Film” and countless other haunting melodies in modern times.

Mathis previously previewed Hear No Evil with tracks “Ramps & Vamps,” “To Love The World,” “The Path” and “New Path,” the latter featuring renowned saxophonist Karl Denson (Rolling Stones, Greyboy All-Stars, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe). The record also sees contributions from The String Cheese Incident percussionist Jason Hann, The Motet’s Drew Sayers (saxophone) and Ryan Jalbert (guitar), keyboardist Todd Stoops (RAQ), bassist Dan Africano (Thievery Corporation), drummer Josh Raymer, guitarist Clay Welch and more.

Mathis and company captured Hear No Evil live, directly to tape at Color Red Studios in Denver, Colorado. Rounding out the double LP are remixes from Michael Menert, Sidecar Tommy and others. Head here to stream and order the record.

Reed is set to reunite with original Electric Beethoven drummer Jay Lane (Dead & Company, Wolf Brothers) as well as Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey bandmate Brian Haas for a concert at The Chapel in San Francisco on January 21 celebrating the release of Hear No Evil. Find ticketing info below: