[.ca] Metro Area

Throw-back update better than original:
Metro Area is a rolling beat beast which seems to get its material from the 80s dance scene, minus the cheese. It is catchy, head-bobbing, and will stick in your brain for a while, much to your joy. Its the soundtrack to a life lived on martinis, gambling, and lights on the strip. If you like to go out and have a good time and you have even the slightest tolerance for 80s music, then you have to have this. It changes things.

Rockit fans can finally say 'I told you so' 3.5 stars:
Right before break dancing hit it big, the stuff which was the most "fresh" is exactly what Metro Area is creating today. Remember the first tastes of 'electronica' music? The bass lines were strong. The beats, extremely raw and minimal. Vocals? No way. That's exactly what Metro Area has here in their rookie full length album debut. It feels like that old MIDI drum machine system your older brother used to have tucked away under the bed. You don't have to look further than the track names to understand the vibe that these NYC-based dj's are putting out: "Machine Vibes", "Atmosphrique", "Orange Alert", and "Strut"; they're almost musical adjectives which defined the early 1980's. You were a fan of Herbie Hacock's 'Rockit' in 1983? It's about time we had more of that stuff. Morgan Geist and Darshan Desrani aren't strangers to the spotlight after appearing on Nude Dimensions v. 3; their track "Caught Up" was one of a few memorable tracks on a otherwise disappointing album. \oBe sure to check out Geist's solo work on "Lullaby" on ND v. 3 as well - superb.\c Their remix work \oCentral Living's 'Inside'\c on Carte Blanche v. 3 was a highlight of that release. Total time: 61minutes back down memory lane. I love the photography inside the cover sleeve. Still, it took me 3 go-arounds of solid sampling before I purchased this album. Definitely not for the faint of heart but since it is a tribute to Herbie Hancock, I've got to respect it. The highlights: "Dance Reaction" and the aforementioned "Orange Alert" and "Caught Up". It's the raw funk that gets me in the pit of my soul. These three songs make it worth purchasing alone. Metro Area's sound is rooted in the early 80's sounds of electronica but with today's production, arrangement, and inclusion of a wider range of instruments you have to give credit where credit is due. Whatever you want to call it - Electro-clash, Electroflash - it's hot again and Metro Area is only one voice for the entire NYC scene which is kickin' this old school vibe. - Daz

Morgan Geist, genius:
The sort of music that needs to be felt, more than heard. The clear influence of disco makes Morgan Geist just more than the electronic musician he was on his early Environ releases. Transcending the limits of a bedroom studio, Geist has created what is one of the best dance-floor records. Let Miura take the pain away.

Dissapointed:
I bought it because CD Now always have sent to me the best records, with the best music, in terms of jazz contanining; I was fooled with the reviews, and I don't share that concepts; I neither think it's funk, not jazz, not good music; ok good sound, but anyway i'm really dissilussioned with the result; now I can open a spin-gym and offer that stuff to my customers. That's what i'll do. RODOLFO GONZALEZ

ALL THE WAY DOWN...OOH, YOU MAKE MY LOOOVE...COME DOWN!!!:
I'm a 70s/80s child...Growing up in the days of roller skates, break dancin', parachute pants and jerry curls. Metro Area's CD brought back a lot of fund memories of yesteryear with a whole new flava. This baby is "JAMMIN'"--to use an old 80s vernacular. I wasn't impressed at first sample, but after reading the reviews online, I decided to give it a try. The boys of Metro Area mixed the old with the new in a very stylistic way! And although they haven't reinvented the wheel so to speak, they have flawlessly mastered this style of music by making it sound fresh and reminiscent of days gone by via the use of hand claps/finger snaps, drum machines, disco gurgles and synthesizers. This is clearly a CD meant for the dance floor, but this baby can really be played anytime--Just try not to bop your head, shake that thang, or tap your feet to this one! Every song is a stand out track and a DJ's fantasy! "FUNKY FRESH!"

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