Via Audio

Via Audio
Say Something
[SideCho; 2007]
RATING: 7.7


Finally, a catchy pop record that's serious: not gloomy, not mournful, and not pretentious. It's serious and earnest, it's occasionally sad, but there is such a beautiful gloss over everything that it sticks, hurts, and feels delicious. Not surprisingly, the album was produced by Spoon's drummer, Jim Eno, who I don't believe puts a stamp on anything; he just added some sort of sealant that keeps the sultry goo of "Numb" and sexy-sad lollipops like "We Can Be Good" and "Harder on Me" in our heads for weeks.

Via Audio singer Jessica Martins has a strong, memorable, and pretty much flawless voice, unfettered in reach, with the ability to be an alarming caw (the ravenous climax of bipolar rock/blues number "Enunciation") or a silken liqueur (the blues part of "Enunciation".) Danny Molad, the mostly-full-time drummer, also sings on much of the album; following up "Enunciation" with the duets "Collaboration" and "Hazmat", we are drawn into a world of thoughts defended or answered by a counterpart of the opposite sex: "It takes two to turn out/ The lights that shine around us/ Don't you want to try this?/ Darkness won't destroy us" ("Presents"). Speculation as to the relationships will rivet the listener, but what will hold our attention is the climbs, struts, claps, stops, and restarts that classify one minute of a song as in a completely different mood, key, and rhythm to the next minute. "Presents" is rather steady, a smarter version of twee encased in dazzling guitar plucks-- but it's not exempt from a couple of rabid comedowns in between verses.

The moody and organic composition of the songs is mimicked in the organization of the album, which, generally speaking, settles into serenades and creeping lullabies in the second half, but never abandons that urge to transform, evolve, and devolve as often as possible. The most immediately gripping tracks are earlier on, especially the opener "Developing Active People", which appeared on their self-titled EP in 2004. This may be the quintessential Via Audio track, swooning and rocking in equal measure and knitting Martins' voice neatly in with Molad's. Anyone who has ever heard the Beatles will not be surprised by how the other melodies develop themselves, with more ornate major-minor twists that can be dirty and balladic at once, but what doesn't surprise is pleasing, and what does surprise is addictive.

— Liz Colville, December 11, 2007 - Pitchfork Media

Via Audio

Say Something

[SideCho; 2007]
RATING: 3.5/5

Styles: indie rock, indie pop
Others: Rainer Maria, Rilo Kiley, Blake Babies


Although a debut full-length, Say Something comes across as a collection of songs from a group of self-assured musicians extremely comfortable with what they’re doing. From Boston by way of Brooklyn, Via Audio’s confidence may result from their experiences as students at the Berklee School of Music. It may also be bolstered by having impressed Spoon’s Jim Eno so much that he was sitting in the booth on production duties. Thankfully, their songwriting skills match their confident performances and professional connections, making the album an absolute treat for indie pop fans.

Skewing toward upbeat and quirky, the album features a boy/girl vocal trade-off reminiscent of Rainer Maria and Mates of State. Jessica Martins’ singing is sweet without ever being cloying in the least. Danny Molad’s and Tom Deis’ voices offer relatively smooth, lower-register complements to hers, and the interplay is magic on songs like "Developing Active People," "We Can Be Good," and "Presents." The tracks featuring her solo vocal performances, such as "Harder on Me" and "Enunciation," shine brightly as well, and though they seem to pale a bit when compared with the multi-vocalist tracks, they are a nice counterpoint. - Tiny Mx Tapes

Via Audio
http://www.spin.com/articles/9-hottest-new-bands-playing-cmj-2008


VIA AUDIO
Hometown: New York/Boston
Recommended if you like... Mates of State, the Submarines, the Cardigans
Why it rocks: With all of the synthesizer kids and spazzy indie bands on the scene, it's refreshing to delve into something a little deeper, in this case the cozy songwriting and distinctly grown-up sounds of Via Audio. Restrained and elegant, Via Audio feels more Grey's Anatomy than Gossip Girl, and that feels just fine to us.
Download: "Developing Active People" - SPIN Magazine

Review by Amelia Raitt

Pretty much everything you need to know about Via Audio is found in their video for "Presents." They're chock full of that indie irony, but somehow make it easy to swallow by crafting a song that's just too darn catchy to have it matter. Say Something Say Something Say Something, these Berklee College of Music grads' debut record for the Sidecho label, is full of such gems. "From Clouds" slows things down from the frenetic pace set by "Presents," but is no less catchy, while "Enunciation" is the sort of experiment (cabaret club tunes for indie dudes? OK!) that only groups like Spoon aren't afraid of undertaking these days. Small surprise, then, that Jim Eno is behind the decks here. Recommended. - eMusic

Jessica Martins' light vocal touch is a true delight. Supple, simple and the antithesis of strident, there's an understated, amiable quality about her inflections and intonations that's incredibly pleasant. For much of the disc she's aided on harmonies and some verses by guitarist Tom Deis, whose woody timbre is a perfect compliment to her controlled subtlety. Both of them overcome their limitations and meld effortlessly with an air-tight rhythm section. - Greogory Robson

Animalore is the second full-length album from the four-piece Brooklyn-based indie pop band Via Audio, and was produced by Spoon’s drummer Jim Eno. On their first full-length album Say Something the band created wistful and likable indie pop that garnered the praise of many, including Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla who identified them as his “new favorite band” and other publications soon followed with gleaming reviews. On Animalore each song appears to be entirely detached from the others creating an assortment of some sort, a work of art, an experience of miraculous proportions that undoubtedly shows the creative aptitude Via Audio holds. When I think of a word to depict Animalore irregularity comes to mind, is that a bad thing? Well no, with the help of Eno, the band crafted the songs down to the final detail, and the fact that the songs do not intermingle melodiously somehow makes the album easier to assimilate.
On the opening track “Hello”, Jessica Martin’s voice is well appreciated due to the delicate and uncomplicated arrangements of the song; her voice is memorable as she sings “well hello, though it isn’t so hard to say…” Her vocals absolutely carry the song and “Goldrush” follows in the same direction with stimulating simplicity, attractive melody, and a funky 70’s styled ending that gives the song a nice feel. “Babies” shows more of the band’s indie pop/electronic sound that can bring the hipsters out to the dance floor; the line “I know the world is overcrowded but I wanna make babies with you,” stands out and illustrates the clever and witty songwriting that the band enjoys. “Tigers” is distinguishing and polite, while “Wanted” shifts to a more evocative classic sound that is beautiful and airbrushed with sixties pop melodies. “Too Quiet” is yet another silky transition to the indie ditty “Lizard Song”, which is engaging and tells the story of a “little lizard in Japan,” generating a fairy tale-like depiction. “Digital” generates a lo-fi electronic sound that seems to be taking aim at apparently no talent pop stars – “kid you’ve got the look of a star it doesn’t even matter how good you are”, the music is good but the lyrics seem to be tackling an issue that has been talked about so many times that perhaps makes this track the weakest on the album. “Summer Stars” is romantic and full of allure, Martin’s voice is enticing as she sings “we feel as though were doing something right” and makes this track a brilliant indie pop song. “Oh Bla Wee” and “Olga” are more uncomplicated than the other songs but they are still gems, on these tracks the band goes back to the sixties pop formula that they used on “Wanted”. The album ends strong with “Happening” an easy on the ear tune which starts with an acoustic guitar that’s lovable and fun but then builds up to a boisterous and joyful bang.
Via Audio are audacious in their attempt to create a wide array of organic sounds, and their efforts pay off; it’s not often that a band can instill so many approaches into an album and get away with it but Animalore delivers the goods. If you could displace the music into an empty canvas, the result would be a masterpiece of art that would incorporate many western styles of painting, from abstract all the way down to tonalism. - Jorge Cepeda

After almost exactly four years, Via Audio is back with their third full-length to be released later this month, but we’ve got the first single from Natural Language for you to hear right now. Shaking their fists in the face of the tempermental god from whom they seek refuge, “Boat” is a rousing, fizzy ride inside the band’s (now a duo) new sound. The track hits like a storm, rising and falling on frenetic drums and buzzing guitars, the vocals remaining conversely placid as our protagonist holds out hope — “I’ll sail this sea/Until I see/My Love, My Love/She waits for me.” The waves grow monstrous, wildly melodic, Via Audio battling it out until, at last, they “wash ashore”. Home.

Natural Language was self-recorded by the duo and produced by Dan Molad, their original drummer/current member of Lucius, at his Brooklyn studio, Sounds Like A Fire. Via Audio is also self-releasing their new work on March 25 and celebrating with a release show at Glasslands on March 30th. Catch them there or on their tour with Elizabeth & the Catapult on the way down to SXSW. Hear the premiere of “Boat” above and join us in celebrating new Via Audio! - The Wild Honey Pie