Nowhere Again - Now I Am Twenty EP

If you’re like me, you recognized that Nowhere Again took their Nom de Band from The Secret Machines song. In using that song title as their band name, these guys set the bar for themselves pretty high; TSM is beloved by many a music fan, and said fans really run the gamut from Indy Hipsters to Neo-Progronauts. Does Nowhere Again, the band, measure up?

The answer, my friends, is a resounding ‘Yes’. Even, maybe, a ‘Hell yes’. The name is an homage, but the music is dynamic in its own right (Like dearly departed Oceansize with Jane’s).

My first impression of the EP, after a complete run-through, is that these guys have drawn musically from many genres; I don’t know if it’s just me being old, but I definitely like to think I hear some Fugazi-like guitar shredding on ‘Now I am Twenty’. There are definite Prog Rock aspects as well, but some grunge and Shoegaze is masterfully incorporated.

Musically, I hear a lot of Radiohead influence, but with a twist: Robert Smith (The Cure) on vocals. Nowhere Again make it work and the vocals are solid. If vocals aren’t your thing, there is plenty going on with the guitars, rhythm section and effects to keep even the most critical listener engaged. These songs are technical, but not sterile.

Second track ‘Eighteen’ starts as a dreamy, ethereal track, but kicks in with a much more pronounced bass line and heavier drums. The guitar solo in this tune is what made me think of Fugazi, and it positively shreds. So far, this is a frontrunner for me on this EP, followed closely by the song ‘June’.

The only track that I have not really taken to is ‘Heliopause’. It’s a sort of noise and feedback interlude that sounds like a Tool soundscape and whale songs playing in a wind tunnel. It’s cool, but I get impatient but my bet is that ‘Heliopause’ is very cool to see and hear live.

The other songs (‘Last Human’,‘Hardman Square’and ‘Plans) are all really good, listenable songs with a lot of sonic detail layered in. No one song on ‘Now I am Twenty’ is weak, and each seems to have had a lot of thought put into it.

‘Now I am Twenty’ is definitely worth many listens. If you like expansive, layered songs that build and change and evolve throughout, then you will love this EP. Hopefully, new material (which is supposed to be a bit harder!) is forthcoming. Nowhere Again will always have a place on my playlist as long as they keep making cool, interesting music.

Released May 09 on Superstar Destroyer

Posted by Jake on May 11, 2011

Metamusic - World To Come EP

Metamusic’s ‘World to Come’ has become my ‘GO-TO’ album at work to get into a productive groove.

Sometimes, actually most times, I can’t get started on work, and I turn on my music as a diversion or to get some inspiration. If the music’s not right, it’s hard to get in that productive, ‘get shit done’, effortless FLOW state. Metamusic’s blend of downtempo and alternative progressive music seems to be written for people just like me.

I needed a little help with describing them, so I turned to the band’s bio page (SSD Records site). Metamusic themselves say that if you are a fan of Massive Attack, Radiohead, and Trip Hop you will like them. They never describe themselves or their music though; they want us to figure them out on our own.The band also says that fans of The Verve and Team Sleep (Chino Moreno of Deftones side gig) will dig ‘World to Come’. While I am not very familiar with The Verve, I am a huge fan of Deftones and Team Sleep and I concur, as a fan, that Metamusic is definitely compatible stylistically. I would add that fans of Mew, Doves, Firehose, Minutemen, Mogwai, Errors and Echo and the Bunnymen might like Metamusic.

Each of the songs on ‘World to Come’ has vocals, so while these guys could easily be fully instrumental, the vocals fit and complement the music. The vocals remind me of Radiohead a bit, and also of 1990’s band, dada, mostly because of some multi-part vocal harmonies. The vocals aren’t totally polished, but they’re definitely listenable, and I think that the musicianship of the whole band more than makes up for any imperfections.

One thing I liked immediately was that the drummer on this EP, whoever he is, seems to have some major Jazz Chops. Maybe I am wrong, but it seems like more than once the drummer goes on Gene Krupa-style, minimalist cymbal and edge-of-drumhead sessions that I find really cool. Combine the drums/bass rhythms with clever sampling and D Boone (Minutemen) funk-strum guitar, and I can’t help but smile and enjoy this EP.

My rating: I like Metamusic. I like that they play cool, original music that I can really groove to. I LOVE that they are unique, and that they can incorporate a lot of the best elements of several genres into their songs. I hope they make more of the same soon and for a long time to come.

To close, here’s a quote about Metamusic from Irish instrumentalists And So I Watch You From Afar: ‘Fresh as Fuck, not a hint of imitation.’

Agreed, seconded and wholeheartedly recommended.

Released April 04 on Super Star Destroyer

Posted by Jake on May 19, 2011