About

The Untied Knot is London-based instrumental duo Nigel Bryant (electric guitar, synthesizer) and Matt Donovan (drums, percussion, synthesizer) who play improvised music incorporating elements of drone, post-punk, psych, electronics and folk.

The group’s sound has evolved from largely acoustic song-based forms on “Sketches for a Lost Summer” (2009), adding more electronics on “Rien n’existe” (2012) to the electrified drone-rock of “Description of a Flame” (2016) recorded with Stereolab drummer, Andy Ramsay at the controls. 2019’s “Falling Off the Evolutionary Ladder” was constructed from drum/guitar improvisations recorded at a now demolished South London studio.
The duo’s releases on their Sonic Imperfections label have received airplay in the UK on BBC Radio 3 (Late Junction), BBC6 Music (Freak Zone & Gideon Coe), Resonance FM and NTS and WFMU (Shrunken Planet) in the USA.
“Rien n’existe” featured in an article in Harper’s Bazaar Art magazine and was described by Rough Trade as “an accomplished step into a womb-like sonic existence, warm, enveloping and quietly brilliant in its dynamics”.

Their live appearances have included performances at the Union Chapel in North London and the Purcell Room in London’s Southbank Centre. The group has performed on bills with underground legends Daevid Allen, Chris Cutler and Charles Hayward.

Matt has played with Disco Students, Whitestar, Eat Lights, Become Lights and Damo Suzuki amongst many others.
Nigel is also a member of improvising acoustic guitar collective The Broca Ensemble and performed in Rhys Chatham’s electric guitar ensemble in “A Secret Rose” at Birmingham Town Hall in 2014. His solo alias, RIM ACD produces electronic noise from a no instrument effects loop.
He is co-organiser of the monthly live experimental music series Sonic Imperfections in South East London which has featured appearances by the likes of Laura Cannell, Sarah Angliss, Alison Blunt, Graham Dunning, Steve Beresford, Charles Hayward and Adam Bohman. He also presents a monthly Sonic Imperfections radio show on Resonance FM.