DESCRIPTION
Déjàvu is the debut solo album from Matthew Tavares, aka Matty, best known as a founding member of BADBADNOTGOOD. Originally released digitally in 2018, it now receives the physical release it has long deserved, lovingly reissued by Mr Bongo.
Produced in collaboration with close friend and acclaimed producer Frank Dukes, Déjàvu was born during a period of rest and reflection for Matthew, following an intense touring schedule with BBNG. The album represents a creative departure — a shift away from the group’s jazz-rooted instrumentals into a dreamy, psych-tinged singer-songwriter space, with Matthew stepping forward as lead vocalist and storyteller.
As Matthew explains:
“I’ve always worked on my own stuff outside of BADBAD, and I’ve made music that sounds like this since I was 16. But when BADBAD started taking off, it was like, ‘Ok, I can’t really make rock-y songwriter music anymore.’”
Drawing inspiration from The Zombies, The Beatles, shoegaze, and Krautrock, Déjàvu is deeply personal — each song originally written as a vignette for someone else, yet ultimately mirroring Matthew’s own inner world.
While loosely fitting into the rock/indie realm, the album is far more nuanced. It swirls with the hazy textures of psych-pop, enriched by undercurrents of jazz, AOR, and the lush arrangements reminiscent of golden-era Brazilian legends like Arthur Verocai — who directly inspires the beautiful bonus track ‘Verocai Pt. II’, included here from the original sessions.
Though labelled a "solo" effort, the record is anything but isolated — it features a cast of friends and family, including contributions from members of BADBADNOTGOOD, offering warmth and richness to its introspective tone.
Déjàvu is a heartfelt, cinematic experience — the sound of personal evolution, channelled through layers of vintage influence, emotional clarity, and sonic experimentation.
TRACKLIST
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Embarrassed
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Verocai
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How Can He Be
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I'll Gladly Place Myself Below You
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Clear
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Polished
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Nothing Yet
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Butter
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Déjàvu
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Verocai Part II (Bonus Track)