Gregory Robson
08/06/09, 10:37 AM
Metavari - Be One of Us and Hear No Noise
Record Label: Crossroads of America Records
Release Date: August 18, 2009
Metavari is a Fort Wayne, IN instrumental band that mixes nuances of electronic music and post-rock with glistening, cinematic experimentation. Their first full-length album Be One of Us and Hear No Noise, bridges together laptop programming with organic rock arrangements and vintage equipment to create multi-faceted sonic terrain that has allowed the band a good bit of national acclaim. Of their many accomplishments, few are as magnanimous as their 2006 sold-out show at Fort Wayne's Embassy Theatre, in which the band performed remixes and original arrangements of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. A year later, they scored the soundtrack to short films by directors Wes Kandel and Benjamin Phenicie.
During the course of ten songs, the trio throws together Fender Rhodes electric pianos, drums, bass and guitar, while allowing the twinkling of chimes, bells and various plinking to layer the songs' canvases. Nearly every song on the LP is cinematic and seems destined for an art house movie theater. The group's heavy use of audio samples, most notably in album opener "Kings Die Like Other Men" and penultimate track, "Story For a Song Without End,," reveal an ability to do something wholly different. The album's two missteps, “The Priest, The Shore and The Wait” and “Io, Apollo and The Veil," aren't exactly alienating or dissonant, they just don't hold up as well as the album's standout tracks. While there are many, few are as transcendent as the soaring "Shimmer Marina," and the mountainous trajectory of both the title track and closer, "Pacific Lights."
At its core, Be One Of Us and Hear No Noise is utterly uplifting, possessing a warm, comforting charm that is laden with undeniably sweet melodies and amiable textures. The celestial beauty never sounds overprocessed, overproduced or overtly fake. Instead the songs are organic, optimistic and radiate a sunny glow that seems primed to put the listener in a state of solace, repose and relaxation. At various points on the album, most notably "Twilight Over Akashi" and "Cerulean," one can't help but marvel at the trio's technical precision and their inherent intellect. The sincerity, simplicity and sonic savant is far too engaging to ignore. Ethereal and accessible, intimate and opulent, Metavari are a true treasure in the world of instrumental music. If this is just the beginning, the next few years won't be that disappointing after all.
1. Kings Die Like Other Men
2. Shimmer Marina*
3. Twilight Over Akashi*
4. The Priest, The Shore and The Wait
5. Be One Of Us and Hear No Noise*
6. Io, Apollo and the Veil
7. Cerulean*
8. Maedchen
9. Story for a Song Without End
10. Pacific Lights*
*=Recommended Tracks
Ty Brinneman (bass)
Andrew McComas (acoustic and electric guitars, drums)
Nate Utesch (Rhodes, electric guitar, keyboards, programming)
Foxhole, Air, M83, The Album Leaf, The Notwist, music boxes
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/metavari)
Website (http://www.mtvri.com)
Record Label: Crossroads of America Records
Release Date: August 18, 2009
Metavari is a Fort Wayne, IN instrumental band that mixes nuances of electronic music and post-rock with glistening, cinematic experimentation. Their first full-length album Be One of Us and Hear No Noise, bridges together laptop programming with organic rock arrangements and vintage equipment to create multi-faceted sonic terrain that has allowed the band a good bit of national acclaim. Of their many accomplishments, few are as magnanimous as their 2006 sold-out show at Fort Wayne's Embassy Theatre, in which the band performed remixes and original arrangements of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. A year later, they scored the soundtrack to short films by directors Wes Kandel and Benjamin Phenicie.
During the course of ten songs, the trio throws together Fender Rhodes electric pianos, drums, bass and guitar, while allowing the twinkling of chimes, bells and various plinking to layer the songs' canvases. Nearly every song on the LP is cinematic and seems destined for an art house movie theater. The group's heavy use of audio samples, most notably in album opener "Kings Die Like Other Men" and penultimate track, "Story For a Song Without End,," reveal an ability to do something wholly different. The album's two missteps, “The Priest, The Shore and The Wait” and “Io, Apollo and The Veil," aren't exactly alienating or dissonant, they just don't hold up as well as the album's standout tracks. While there are many, few are as transcendent as the soaring "Shimmer Marina," and the mountainous trajectory of both the title track and closer, "Pacific Lights."
At its core, Be One Of Us and Hear No Noise is utterly uplifting, possessing a warm, comforting charm that is laden with undeniably sweet melodies and amiable textures. The celestial beauty never sounds overprocessed, overproduced or overtly fake. Instead the songs are organic, optimistic and radiate a sunny glow that seems primed to put the listener in a state of solace, repose and relaxation. At various points on the album, most notably "Twilight Over Akashi" and "Cerulean," one can't help but marvel at the trio's technical precision and their inherent intellect. The sincerity, simplicity and sonic savant is far too engaging to ignore. Ethereal and accessible, intimate and opulent, Metavari are a true treasure in the world of instrumental music. If this is just the beginning, the next few years won't be that disappointing after all.
1. Kings Die Like Other Men
2. Shimmer Marina*
3. Twilight Over Akashi*
4. The Priest, The Shore and The Wait
5. Be One Of Us and Hear No Noise*
6. Io, Apollo and the Veil
7. Cerulean*
8. Maedchen
9. Story for a Song Without End
10. Pacific Lights*
*=Recommended Tracks
Ty Brinneman (bass)
Andrew McComas (acoustic and electric guitars, drums)
Nate Utesch (Rhodes, electric guitar, keyboards, programming)
Foxhole, Air, M83, The Album Leaf, The Notwist, music boxes
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/metavari)
Website (http://www.mtvri.com)