The Third Eye Foundation

<a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Matt Elliott</a>'s work as the Third Eye Foundation melds layers of droning noise with clattering drums and harrowing samples, resulting in disturbing yet captivating reflections of a life plagued by fear and hopelessness. <a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Elliott</a> originated from Bristol, England, and his work has combined influences from the city's space rock, drum'n'bass, and trip-hop scenes. He'll often combine supremely fast, chopped-to-smithereens breaks with other drums or samples that are heavily slowed down or stretched out, producing an extremely disorienting effect. Following a burst of activity resulting in several acclaimed albums, singles, and remixes from 1996 to the beginning of the 21st century, <a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Elliott</a> put the Foundation on hold and focused on writing downcast, experimental folk-influenced songs under his own name, but he's revived the project on occasion.

During the early '90s, <a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Elliott</a> played in a group called the Secret Garden along with Richard Walker, who left in 1992 and founded the experimental group <a href="spotify:artist:0n9A9MrlVMuUSXxxJAkFJc">Amp</a>. <a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Elliott</a> contributed to early releases by <a href="spotify:artist:0n9A9MrlVMuUSXxxJAkFJc">Amp</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:336fB3AJgK8AvHX5bD8d9A">Flying Saucer Attack</a>, two groups from Bristol that blended harsh noise with ethereal elements, and were often referred to as space rock. Semtex, the Third Eye Foundation's debut full-length, appeared on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Linda%27s+Strange+Vacation%22">Linda's Strange Vacation</a> in 1996, and pushed these elements further, with vocals and guitars by Debbie Parsons (aka <a href="spotify:artist:1klq361dNBl58LvufvYM1r">Foehn</a>) trapped under a maelstrom of relentless distorted drums. Three other singles appeared during the same year, including an unrelated EP on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Domino%22">Domino</a> that also bore the title Semtex, and featured overdriven breakbeats similar to the work <a href="spotify:artist:3YGigudQiWDb5NdJOC5StS">Alec Empire</a> was producing at the time. Another release, In Version, featured remixes of tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:0n9A9MrlVMuUSXxxJAkFJc">Amp</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:336fB3AJgK8AvHX5bD8d9A">Flying Saucer Attack</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1pkBpeGW5Aug4LtqlESZ4v">Crescent</a>.

In 1997, 3EF shared a split 12" with <a href="spotify:artist:44fgwI8xCBDThXhwDckjU7">V/Vm</a>, kicking off <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22FatCat+Records%22">FatCat Records</a>' split series. The Foundation remained with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Domino%22">Domino</a> in the U.K., while signing to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Merge%22">Merge</a> in the United States for second full-length Ghost, which appeared in 1997, as did the Sound of Violence EP. Pan Odyssey, a collaborative EP with Bump & Grind, was released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Sub+Rosa%22">Sub Rosa</a> in 1998. Shortly following the Fear of a Wack Planet single, the full-length You Guys Kill Me appeared by the end of the year. Little Lost Soul, a slightly more restrained full-length, was released in 2000, and 3EF's remixes for artists including <a href="spotify:artist:00sazWvoTLOqg5MFwC68Um">Yann Tiersen</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3TjDnMzp8ezc6SgJ7DS9AZ">Tarwater</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5isqImG0rLfAgBJSPMEVXF">Blonde Redhead</a> were rounded up on 2001's I Poo Poo on Your Juju.

In 2003, <a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Elliott</a> began releasing music under his own name, drifting away from electronic music and closer to dark, dreamlike experimental indie folk. He also moved to France and began recording for the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ici+d%27Ailleurs%22">Ici d'Ailleurs</a> label. A 2004 mix CD, OuMuPo 1, was credited to the Third Eye Foundation, but the project was put on ice until the politically motivated full-length The Dark was released in 2010. Following three more albums credited to <a href="spotify:artist:0559tR6WyukLWH68JIGBuC">Matt Elliott</a>, the Third Eye Foundation returned in 2018 with the dub-influenced full-length Wake the Dead. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi