Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"The self-titled EP from New York's The Upwelling is a rock-n-roll experience that must be enjoyed from start to finish without interruption. If you don't approach this EP with that in mind you just may miss something very important. Melodic and approachable in a way that rock hasn't seen in a while, The Upwelling create synthetic textures with their electronics and robotic like acoustic drums. The vocal harmonies are astounding and layered thick with organ and synth that give it a Depeche Mode feel. But to compare this groundbreaking trio to anyone is unfair -- they can easily stand on their own two feet. But what is truly astonishing is that the band in their Brooklyn apartment recorded the entire album. It sounds like the work of a Brian Eno but better. Go get this album right now." - Smother.net
"In an age where band names seem to mean less and less, it's nice to know that some groups really do attempt to use their title to define themselves. Such is the case of the Upwelling. Those fine folks at Merriam-Webster define an upwelling as a "the process of rising to the surface and flowing outward," and while frontman Ari Ingber rarely croons about seaweed or cross-currents, the music found on the band's self-titled debut EP certainly adopts the properties of the trio's SAT-ready moniker.
The Brooklyn-based Upwelling traffic in the sort of spacey, watery rock that floats, builds, and overflows the way the best psychedelia does. Ari fronts brother Josh on drums and Massachusetts-born Conor Heffernan on keyboards and a series of pedals that act as the bass, which gives the band a rhythmic, pulsating low end. The band mixes the stoned-out moods of Dark Side of the Moon with the more grandiose orchestral maneuvers of latter-day space rockers Spiritualized and Secret Machines, and Ari's powerful falsetto would put Chris Martin to shame, especially since he's a far superior lyricist. When he drops lines like "It's passing like every time she walks by / Her ghost is so much sweeter than her face / Her body feels like snow" on "American Night," who wouldn't want to contemplate that during a laser show over some special brownies?
Amazingly, the Upwelling recently made history, becoming the first-ever unsigned band to be named to the Virgin Megastore's Recommends Series. In addition to being featured in-store, they were also included on a special Virgin Megastore compilation. Their hypnotizing live show gained momentum during watershed performances at this year's South by Southwest festival and at various spots across the U.S., further cementing their reputation as a band that can make you feel groovy while still packing a punch. With the buzz still building, the band named after a watery uprising seems poised to surface in your record collection pretty soon.
In fact, let SPIN.com give you a head start. Download "Murdered by a Big Bomb," a cut that deftly showcases the Upwelling's ability to balance woozy head-trips with sweaty, visceral rock'n'roll in one massive whirlpool of sound, naturally overseen by Ari Ingber's arena-ready crooning. A full-scale tour, as well as a full-length album, will be flowing your way soon, so have your waders (and your collection of black light posters) at the ready."
- Kyle Anderson
- Kyle Anderson
Drawing inspiration from Pink Floyd, Depeche Mode and The Police, The Upwelling has delivered an exciting invitation with this EP. Reminiscent of the Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason and albums from contemporary progressive acts such as RPWL, the buzz surrounding the still-unsigned trio has been incredible and, for once, deserved. You won’t have to travel too far into tracks such as “Sam” or “Murdered By A Big Bomb” to understand the emotional depths and musical maturity evident in this still-young outfit. This also serves as a great introduction to the exciting writing talents of Ari Ingber, who could, given the chance, really give the American music scene a real kick in the arse. Great stuff. Necessary. - Jedd Beaudoin
It's shocking just how assured this EP is. Three dudes from Brooklyn, without a label or a studio, have done what Pink Floyd tried to do with Dark Side of the Moon, but all the money and marijuana in the world couldn't stop that turd from stinking up the rock music canon (and the fucker does not synch up with any damn movie, by the way). Maybe this is a testament to how innovative an artist can be when put in a situation with very obvious boundaries. It's all the more reason why you should seek out The Upwelling now, before they're given money and sent down the road to mediocrity." - Splendid
The Upwelling offer something quite impressive, something moving, something beautiful in the way art is supposed to be beautiful, capturing the fine line between cliche and completely alienating. The waves of building sound backing the smoothly sad lines "Can everybody breathe?/Is everyone okay?" repeating over and over again on "Ladder 104" capture the true sense of bittersweet intention. - Left Off The Dial
"In the space of four tracks on one EP, New York's The Upwelling has created a listening experience that is not only thoroughly enjoyable but one that must be talked about. The trio combines the atmospheric optimism of Pink Floyd, the electronic undercurrents of Depeche Mode and the vocals of Tears for Fears to create the best EP of the year. The best track is "Ladder 104," in which Ari Ingber's vocals match the urgent intensity of the music, inviting the listener into a cinematic rescue mission with a sing-along chorus that would have been right at home in the movie Backdraft. If the band releases a full-length album anytime soon that involves the listener as much as this EP does, or matches its energy, it will be the year's best rock album, hands-down." - Shakingthrough.net
"The Upwelling's post-rock mergence with Britpop rock sometimes curiously sounds like the New, Tantric & Sting. Sting aside, this is a really good EP. The songs, which are dynamic and well constructed, have all their elements integrated. Everything shows itself and fades out equally -- an impressive set of songs." - Punk Planet
Discography
Self Titled (2004)
1. In Her Arms
2. Sam
3. Murdered By a Big Bomb
4. Ladder 104
5. American Night
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
THE UPWELLING
An upwelling occurs when cold water from the ocean depths replaces its warmer surface layer. As a result of this unexplained phenomenon, an upwelling has come to mean a rising, not unlike the current emergence of the similarly named Brooklyn-based band, the Upwelling.
With roots in New York, D.C., and Boston, the Ingber brothers Josh (drums) and Ari (vocals and guitar) grew up playing a menagerie of instruments. They both spent ample time apart musically with Josh playing in Boston bands and Ari tackling the NYC music scene. However, Josh relocated after Aris invitation to share in his vision, the Upwelling. According to Josh his younger brother writes essential music: I had to move, and be a part of it.
Also invited to take part in the project is Massachusetts native Conor Heffernan. Though the lineup is set as a trio, Conors addition to the band can be reasonably understood as the formation of a quartet: While Conor adds the harmonic textures with his hands on the keyboards, he also generates the low-end by playing bass-pedals with his feet.
As a three-piece band, the Upwelling impresses with its full sound. Both the new self-titled EP and the bands live show project a fullness that overwhelms and enraptures listeners, almost hypnotizing them with crescendos that define the Upwelling sound. The bands commanding, emotive and intellectual style reference bands like Pink Floyd, the Police and Leonard Cohen.
The raw, heart-wrenchingly honest lyrics of songs such as Ladder 104 and American Night showcase Aris ability to suggest spiritual and social overtones while remaining deeply personal. Usually in privacy, Ari spends a lot of time writing in the studio that the band built in the basement of Joshs apartment. On the EP, before the first song starts you can hear Ari tripping over a drum stand as he runs to the microphone, Josh recalls amusingly. Its a small studio.
The bands self-recorded EP boldly references the forgotten concept albums of the 70s each song merging seamlessly into the next, traversing time, space, and style. Already, the disc has become celebrated by news critics internationally and the bands musical peers on Garageband.com, where the Upwelling EP reached a top 1% ranking. Most impressive, the Upwelling was designated as the first unsigned band and first EP ever on Virgin Megastores Virgin Recommends series. Even without a label, the band was picked up for national distribution by R.O.I.R.
Propelled by their inherent desire to be an incredible live band, the Upwelling surpass their studio effort. As Ari asserts, the only currency worth anything, is the live experience.
The Upwelling shared the stage with the likes of VHS or Beta, Rainer Maria, Metric, the Wrens and Rubyhorse. Currently on tour in the U.S., the band will tour the U.K. in the fall.
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