NZ Musician Review - August/September 2006

Matt Deacon is a full-time guitar teacher based in Christchurch. A prolific solo artist he has performed and recorded under his own name and now represents himself as The Bob Lazar Story offering "(sic)" - an album of lo-fi but progressive-sounding rock. Deacon's guitar is the main means of expression, but as with albums by similarly minded artists such as Babymash, Transam and Lightning Bolt, it is the collision of instruments and the texture within the arrangements that provide the joy on repeated listens. Simon Fox (drums), Ross Devereux (sax) and Tanya Didham (vocals on I Didn't Get Anything Off That) all contribute, but it's very clear that The Bob Lazar Story features a line up that shuffles and revolves around Deacon. News that the project will be extending out to include live gigs means that a permanent rhythm section might enter the fold. It would be great to see. This record is strong, but the sometimes dizzying space-jams can come over a bit too indulgent in places. I'd certainly like to see this music repesented by a live - touring - entity. Available from www.lucidbrucemusic.com.

Simon Sweetman