ARTIST: Metavari
TITLE: Ambling
LABEL: Self Released
GENRE: Instrumental Rock
BITRATE: 191kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 18m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-00-00
RIP DATE: 2008-10-21
Track List
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1. Satellites Made It Possible 4:19
2. Everything Is Fine 5:57
3. Road To Awe 5:02
4. There You Are 3:31
Release Notes:
http://www.myspace.com/metavari
Metavari is an instrumental post-rock band from Indiana. Formed in 2006, songs
were piecemealed by airmail between the members of the band who lived in Indiana
and a remaining member who was living in the Far East. The band recorded bits
and pieces of ideas and slowly formed songs over the course of several months.
Combined with their use of digital programming, Metavari experiments with sonic
textures, self-manufactured tones and vintage equipment to develop a style that
is purely organic and undeniably digital.
Metavari debuted on July 6th, 2007. 180 people watched them perform at Fort
Wayne's Public Library. Their set was accompanied by a screen and projector that
ran original short films synced to each song. Metavari has since brought the
videos to every show they've played, projecting them onto a 100 sq ft backdrop
and spilling the light onto the stage. To date, Metavari has scored original
music for a short film in Washington, DC, written three original songs in three
television commercials for a regional hospital and recently finished a live
performance of remixes and original arrangements/interpretations of the Beach
Boys' Pet Sounds album, called ...And the way they feel.
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"Metavari's debut EP, Ambling, radiates a musical warmth most releases nowadays
lack. Too many instrumental albums are cold and overly digitized, but Metavari
avoid sounding too clinical or synthesized by utilizing a combination of vintage
keyboard and analog equipment, among other instruments. The lack of vocals in
instrumental music can be off-putting to a first-time audience (although, let's
be honest, a lack of vocals can also be a true blessing when you are under
constant bombardment from the asinine music and lyrics of Top 40 radio). The
absence of vocals should in no way affect an album's emotional stir; the
underlying music creates the impact. Ambling EP's four tracks suggest a sense of
optimism that is left to be differently interpreted by each listener."
- Ambling EP Review by Sara Peterson in Whatzup Magazine
When Metavari took the stage, the first impression of the five members of this
instrumental combo was that a) they were completely immersed in their songs,
focusing on the task at hand with nary a "rock face" to be seen, and b) these
guys were committed to serving the music, exhibiting a level of musical subtlety
that's not usually a hallmark of a "new"¥ band. Backed by mechanical engineering
film footage and abstract graphics, Metavari's combination of organic
instrumental rock, warm ambience and patient grooves came through. And though
the band's members claim several modern and classic ambient, synth- and
beat-driven influences (including Brian Eno), their collective results aren't
derivative. Metavari appear to have absorbed their influences rather than
wearing them on their collective sleeve, emerging with a distinctive sound.
Quite a feat for a combo just releasing their first disc. A stellar first
effort, the initial release is a coherent collection of songs that certainly do
justice to the band's approach.
- from 'Retro Life-Scoring Made Modern' by DM Jones
Between their posters, album artwork, stage show (a must-see if you haven't yet)
and overall vibe, Metavari seem to be just as much of an art project as they are
a band. Defined as a post-rock instrumental band with a progressive-rock core,
Metavari have been working for some time now on their retro-meets-modern sounds,
the result being their debut release, the Ambling EP.
- Wooden Nickel, Fort Wayne, IN