Digital Antique

Digital Antique is truly a unique blend of classical music that has rock undertones- or is it the other way around? Regardless, the sound is beautiful! "NG" has a bit of the faster, upbeat tempo. As someone who actually played the violin for almost eight years, I can recognize the sound of a violin anywhere and this piece makes the violin parts of this piece really shine! - technorati

Digital Antique's new 10 song album, II, is pure brilliance; it's music at its best! The string
ensemble, the guitars, the drums, the bass, the creative genius - everything works
together to make a masterpiece out of this release. I knew it was instrumental music but
the project was so good that I didn't miss hearing a vocal performance at all. The
musical performance and overall sound of the project drew me in and kept me focused
on the compositions themselves. - I am entertainment magazine

"The songs are lush in melodies and with a grand sound that is progressive, post-rock, cinematic and at times maybe post classical thrown in for good measure. It is hard to pick a favorite song from this release but if I was forced to choose then I would pick ’5 Marines’…no, maybe ‘Jonsii’, oh whatever. Check out the album and you will see what I mean. " - Fade To Yellow

"“II” is a raw, organic post-rock treasure, beautifully arranged and produced, that comes along once in a lifetime. At least as far as indie music recordings are concerned, this is a complete rarity. This band is the next generation of post-modern rock." - Jamsphere

"Digital Antique can be summed up in one word…Epic! But this indie instrumental rock band out of Austin, Texas is more than just music. Combining stunning visuals with guru musicianship and compositions the 17th Century would be proud of, Digital Antique is a full multimedia experience." - Middle Tennessee Music

" Digital Antique are an incredibly mature and seasoned group of musicians delivering a true thing of beauty on their new album “II”. Digital Antique’s “II” should be in the collection of any serious music listener." - Music Perk

"II and Digital Antique themselves are not something to be pushed aside. They are doing something that many other bands wouldn’t even be brave enough to attempt. This group of talented musicians have produced something musically superb in each and every way." - Rocking Republic

"Digital Antique’s lack of vocals is hardly noticeable as your mind starts to paint a cinematic picture as you listen to the songs intently. When you are ready to focus intently on a complex tapestry of sound, I recommend you take a listen to Digital Antique. It is different, but isn’t that what we are all searching for?" - Indie Band Guru

As a rule, I try not to obsess over band names. However, this one seems quite fitting of the musical melange. Digital Antique summons a sophisticated palate marrying a melodramatic classical approach with progressive pacing. However, simply comparing it to prog rock or dubbing it “rock opera” would be a tad limiting. Those boundaries are broken through by – and really, there’s no other way of putting this – their strangeness.

Odd? Yes. Fascinating? Absolutely. Which is why they’re worth checking out.

The band got its start in 2008 when its core members met at South Plains College, where they each studied music. Guitarist Travis Kennedy, drummer Payton Holekamp, and bassist James Parker Randolph have extensive musical backgrounds, experience, and a lot of inspiration from varied musical genres. Each has an obsessive ear for detail, which can be deadly, but in the best way possible. Theirs is a collaboration of precise strategies and unconventional melodies, logical processions with illogical signatures.

The trio has been described as an instrumental indie rock band with cinematically driven compositions. All true, but their music is also an immensely striking waltz with darkness, winding its way round a complex tapestry of textures and startling aural landscapes. There is something distinctly eerie that threads it all together. Even my Texas Music Matters colleague Paul Carrubba remarked that the track “Zombie Knuckle” (used on this edition of the Austin Music Minute) would be the perfect soundtrack for a film scene panning through a darkened alley on a cold, overcast day – where something’s gone horribly wrong. Sounds like my kind of musical adventure.

Don’t miss Digital Antique’s performance tonight at the Mohawk, 912 Red River, on the inside stage. The bill features swing/folk/bluegrass rocker Joe Sundell, and Delaware-born/Austin-based songwriter and guitarist Kyle Offidani. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the music starts at 10 p.m. Very cool indeed. - KUT.ORG

If the band Russian Circles had a wild passionate love affair with Sigur Rós (minus the vocals of Jónsi Birgisson) you would get their illegitimate love child Digital Antique. They are an instrumental rock band based out of Austin, Texas. They started two years ago in 2008 and have played at a number of venues including SXSW. The band has released their self-entitled album in late January 2010. With much success of their album the band is planning on touring in Europe.

If you like instrumental bands check them out, but don’t expect a highly produced album. The album leans more in the string instruments category than an instrumental rock band would. While I was listening to the album it had some places in the music where it was a bit awkward musically, but I believe that they did that to create a more dark and edgy sound. Overall the album is pretty good; you can listen to a few songs by going to their website. - The Noob News

Digital Antique conjures a similar aesthetic. The local trio employs a revolving string quartet and prefers the cleaner, more sophisticated realm of classical music. The group's eponymous debut unfolds with impressive patience and grace, leaning closer to the cinematic expressionism of My Education than Balmorhea's West Texas landscapes. "Taj Mahaal Monkees" showcases Antique's knack for unexpected right turns. - Austin Chronicle

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I must admit I struggled with this at first. Hailing from Austin, Tx and all, this was a surprise package to say the least. The violin on the artwork certainly doesn't represent the twang of country fiddle you might expect. In fact, Digital Antique are to general Texas americana what Soft Machine are to Britpop, but to persevere is to prosper and like all good instrumental music this grows on you.
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In their own words Digital Antique mix progressive, classical and indie, a curious recipe which when added in certain quantities to the great blender of the studio has produced a result which although at first too subtle for some palates, becomes an acquired taste before very long. Anyone who has been to SxSW knows that there is Austin and there is Texas and what goes for one doesn't necessarily work for the other. Anything goes in liberal Austin and that is certainly true for this trio and their supporting cast on strings. Their dark, delicate and cultured flavours against a backdrop of visually stimulating images is enlightened musical theatre and set tongues wagging after an impressive performance at September's Utopia festival. Maton's Song then entered the international top 100 so watch this space and remember, this isn't for everyone but give it a chance and you will be rewarded. - Americana-UK

Instrumental rock-opera is probably the best way to describe the project that is known as Digital Antique. Guitars, drums and a string quartet are the set up from these talented Americans. No lyrics just an album full of Prog Rock. Dark in parts, strange in other areas but mellow throughout. I'm more a lyrics man myself so this was a different sort of listen for me, and I must say on the whole it surprised me. It's nice sometimes to take a step back and listen to something a whole lot different to the mainstream. So getting my ears blown off by some passionate and sterling cellos and violins is as good a diversion as I have had in some time!

It's definitely film music score material, maybe some kind of grief-stricken western from another era. It did in parts remind me of the Nick Cave and Warren Ellis work from 'The Proposition', the track 'Metons Cycle' is definitely in that category. In essence it's Sunday morning hangover material, so that will mean it will probably get quite a bit more playing in my household.
Mat Radbourne - http://www.allgigs.co.uk

"Indie-Music.com Editors Pick! Are Digital Antique strange? Yes. But are they also interesting? Yes. And so it is with this odd trio of Travis Kennedy and James Parker Randolph, who met while studying music at South Plains College. Payton Holekamp on drums, has recently joined the project, expanding the sound palette. It's a bit difficult to describe the music here, but it's very mellow, creepy and atmospheric. A lot of strings, faint guitars, and slow building mood music. There's definitely a Prog Rock influence here, but more from the European and German side of things. A piece like "Meton's Cycle" could have no problem being in the score of a not particularly happy film. There are also some surprising tempo changes, especially at the 4:30 mark of "Meton's Cycle". A fan of anything from Can to King Crimson to Mogwai will truly get some eerie pleasure with Digital Antique. Highly recommended. "

Peter Braidis - Indie-music.com
- Indie-music.com

Extending the range of musical diversity is Digital Antique, who offer a true musical journey, with their captivating progressive instrumental compositions. - Hill Country Happenings