PRESS RELEASE: Introducing the overflowing polyrhythms + microtonal melodies of Methods Body
Introducing the Prismatic, Post-Human Landscape of Experimental Duo Methods Body
“How in the world are there so many genres in here? Who left the door open?” - a closer listen
"Listeners will recognize the album’s rigor and technique, but its charms do not end there. Methods Body overflows with ideas, passion, and maturity; it’s an innovative album that feels natural and lived-in." - Modern Drummer
“Dark twin, meet your light twin.” That’s how musicians and best friends John Niekrasz and Luke Wyland were first introduced to each other in 2007. It’s an apt description of the duality and synergy of their musical project Methods Body. Using keys/electronics and percussion, the two maximize the duo configuration to create music at once primal and futuristic.
Overflowing with polyrhythms and layers of microtonal melodies, the two suites on Methods Body’s self-titled debut conjure a sense of traveling through space and time to a prismatic, post-human landscape. This album is a co-release with Portland's Beacon Sound and includes limited edition vinyl.
Available now at Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Head to the internet Sunday for Methods Body's Record Release Party from Portland's Holocene. The show will also feature Arone Dyer (Buke & Gase), Anthony Sahyoun (Kinematik) + Fadi Tabbal! Tune in by visiting the venue's Twitch and YouTube channels at 6 p.m. PST / 9 p.m. EST.
You've Never Experienced a Zoom Like This
Watch Methods Body's invigorating quarantine video for "Quiet Pt. 3 - They Came Here," a collaboration with the duo and drummer John Niekrasz's sister Juile, an artistic staff of Ballet Memphis who leads Zoom dance classes during the Covid-19 pandemic. She invited friends from Ballet Memphis, Diabalo Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet to join the fun.
“We’ve been starving for connection and ways to collaborate and perform with people," explains keyboardist Luke Wyland. "With everyone spending so much time in virtual interactions and online meetings, we felt this need to kind of blow that format open and use it as a creative medium. We wanted to create a dance video with amazing movers that still has space for improvisation and looseness and goofy mystery.”
“These dancers are incredible, I’ve known some of them a long time,” adds drummer John Niekrasz. “We all got on a Zoom call, did one run through of the form, and then hit record. It was fascinating and humbling to share our music with these masters of movement … and to dance with them, well, we brought some absurdity and humor."
In this case, humor includes John donning a pair of hot pink short shorts that you truly don't want to miss.
Bask in the Soft Pale Glow of the Infinite Timbral Layers of Jacob Cooper's Terrain
The richly talented “maverick electronic song composer” (New Yorker) Jacob Cooper propels us into a luscious journey with Terrain, his highly anticipated sophomore album July 10. Drenched in otherworldly vocals, processed strings and elaborate electronic orchestrations, these three expansive tracks brim with intricately pulsing soundscapes that lull us into a tranquil meditative state. Terrain transports us to a new dimension where time slows down as we bask in the soft, pale glow of infinite timbral layers. The album features vocalists Theo Bleckmann and Jodie Landau, as well as cellist Ashley Bathgate. Pre-order your copy at Bandcamp today and help us spread the word by sharing this stunning trailer.