[thephoenix.com] There’s a hypnotic, almost dream-like quality to the sounds coming out of VARY LUMAR’s collective dome: equal bits alt-rock and electronics, all intertwined in creating an emotive whirlwind of vibes that feel like edgy, psychedelic improvisations. Here on “Hysteriatype,” the standout track from new album The Jig Is Up, the Lumar four slow their moody roll just a touch, soundtracking the delicate descent of a Percocet-fed melody tripping down a progressive-rock rabbit hole. The Jig Is Up gets the proper release treatment this Saturday, April 23, at Church (after that monster metal matinee finishes) on a stellar bill o’ Boston rock with the Lights Out, the Brightest Lights, Black Fortress of Opium, and the Backup Factor. Before the dual “Lights” bands begin to flicker off and on — first they’re off, now they’re bright! — grab the Vary Lumar “Hysteriatype” MP3 below.
DOWNLOAD: Vary Lumar "Hysteriatype" [mp3] (right click, save as)
[bostonbandcrush.org] I love when there seems to be a theme. For instance, like when all the bands on a bill are named after animals or Paulie Shore movies or something. Saturday night's theme at Church seems to be lights and/or power. Check it out: The Brightest Lights didn't check their Backup Factor, resulting in The Lights Out, thus causing a Black Fortress of Opium (because what else do you do when the lights go out?). All this lights on, lights off stuff is causing a variation and what the ancient Greeks would call "Vary Lumar" if they didn't have an ancient Greek word for "vary." This term just happens to be the name of today's featured band. They are flicking the lightswitches and releasing their new album at this show on Saturday night. Here's a sneak peek.
Vary Lumar - “Circles" [Download It!] (right click, save as)
Most of the good electro-bands make you feel as if you are lost and alone inside some sort of electronic device with charges flying past you and lights blinking on and off. Now the electro-rock band sort of creates this feel but they join you inside the machine. Thus is the case with Vary Lumar in “Circles.” We’re definitely inside the machine - but we’ve got some capable companions in Vary Lumar.
“Circles” bounds back and forth on a slingshotty rhythm; testing the edges but staying just inside the lines. The elasticity of the rhythm is evident in the short rests and catch-up accents that come towards the end of each phrase. “Circles” works itself up into surges of power, then pops open the circuit breaker and degausses the whole affair, only, of course, to work it all up again.
The gentle electric sway of “Circles” is going to remind a few of you - OK, maybe more than a few of you - of your favorite electro-rock band whose name rhymes with “Tradio Bed.” It is not the amount of electrons in Vary Lumar’s makeup that gives them this sound, it is the subtleties; such as the melody that holds single notes over rhythmically choppy distances over a charged-up undertow. Vary Lumar keeps their head in this track and as a result helps us keep our head. And our radio.
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