stop: Introduction
Matt Walker is a songwriter, but you probably know him as a drummer. Over the course of several tours and recording projects with the likes of Filter, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Morrissey (just to name a few), he furiously worked on his own music, writing in hotel rooms, on airplanes, behind stages, even on ferries. After amassing what he thought was a rather impressive collection of nearly finished songs, the idea that he might need a singer came to mind.
rewind: Fate
JT McCluskey is a singer Matt has known for many years. They had worked in close circles, but it wasn't until 2004 that they worked together. JT was recording an album with his then band, Exit the King (Epic), and he asked Matt to track some drums. Call it what you want, kismet, synchronicity; what they realized was that they had a strong musical compatibility, and shared an unusually disciplined work ethic. So when Matt decided he needed a singer, he decided on JT.
play: Demos
In 2005, the two hit the studio and could not ignore that a powerful, creative chemistry was developing. JT's vocals brought a visceral, raw energy to the songs, as well as a new melodic dimension. They began to collaborate on more material and drew on a wide range of influences, from the austere early electronic soundscapes of neu! to the dramatic power of 70's glam, to the sonic experimentations of the Iggy/Bowie Berlin recordings. They reveled in twisting the whole mix into an unpredictable futuristic vision of melodic rock. And as is the tao of such things, they made it real by giving it a name: The Most Dangerous Race (theMDR).
pause: Convergence
In early 2006, Matt took the opportunity to go on tour with Morrissey, which kept him on the road for the better part of the year. Not wanting to put theMDR on hold, he and JT embraced a virtual work style, using the internet to communicate ideas and write songs. Progress was made, but an internet connection is no match for a band, and so a band is what they put in place. With Larry Schroeder on bass and Brendan Byrnes on guitar, they got together during Matt's breaks and fleshed out new material. And they realized that in the context of an actual band playing and exchanging ideas, the potential of the songs was truly realized. It was then clear that the group needed to try the material out live. So theMDR played its first live show in March 2007 in Chicago.
play: Live
With just a few scattered but intense rehearsals, theMDR put together a live set that capitalized not only on the strength of the songs, but the agility of the musicians now sharing the stage. The songs proved to be a great platform for the members to interact in the moment, and quickly create a new dialog harmonically and texturally. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Matt and JT had each played hundreds of shows with other bands, but this was definitely different.
fast forward: theMDR
As nearly finished songs became completed songs, theMDR decided to sink their flag in the ever shifting sands of cyberspace and started self-releasing them. In 2007 they released the first two of four 6-track EPs, "Inventing Shadows" and "Metallic Tongue." They played more shows. They shot a video. They went back in the studio and worked on new songs. This year, the second two EPs, "ARC" and "Future God," will be released. And there will definitely be more shows...
The first in a series of four EPs by theMDR, Inventing Shadows is a collection of dark dramatic songs that resist the over-arranged, over-thought tendencies of modern alternative music. Favoring mood and texture, and unafraid to take their time to unfold, the songs get progressively more experimental, from the driving twisting epic "Ashes In Her Eyes," to the ambient cinamatic collage of "Fear Is A Knife."
The themes of Inventing Shadows investigate infatuations with fantasy and what it means to surrender to things that are unattainable. The lyrics are born of emotional moments more than specific situations; some are lucid and others distraught, some are innocent and others perverted. The influences range from early Cure and Joy Division to Brian Eno and "The Idiot" era Iggy Pop, but when channeled thru JT's kinetic vocals and Matt's drumming intensity, the end result is quite unique and a far cry from the tired, borrowed, new wave resurgence of the last few years.
The second in a series of four EPs by theMDR, Metallic Tongue is a barrage of electro-ambient feedback, riding on the back of visceral driving bass, drums and electronic percussion. There is no existing genre to sum up this EP, not that it is in any way outside the realm of modern music, in fact the songs at their core are quite melodic and accessible, but the recordings are channeled thru theMDR's surreal overdrive filter and become something new and unpredictable without sacrificing the immediacy of real, live human performances.
Moments on the EP borrow inspiration from the dense tapestries woven by My Bloody Valentine, as well as Brian Eno, put into a sonic blender with the danger of Bowie's Scary Monsters and the raw energy of Janes Addiction. Enter the driving electro clash programming and the gothic piano on "Destroyer." Enter the diabolical guitar that kicks off "Dark Star" and the pleading bipolar vocals on "Torrential." Enter the train-off-the-rails drums on "Kill the Light."
Thematically, ARC represents the basic chapters of a man's life, at least as far as it has been lived so far by it's narrator. The third EP in a four part series, ARC is the truest embodiment of theMDR's identity thus far. A dramatic blend of emotive songs, visceral live performances and late 70's influenced electronica, this ep actually attemps to trace the arc of life in a mere 6 songs.
The wonder of birth - the isolation of youth - the fire of teenage lust - the self doubt of adulthood and eventually the sanctuary of true love. Equal parts literal and esoteric, ARC is clearly not a part of any popular musical trend, and is both inviting and challenging in its writing and production. At times it is aggressively dissonant and at other times beautifully serene - like life.
May 23, 2008 The Atomica Project, Corporate X, Comasoft with DJ sets by DJ Johnny Kesh, DJ Michael Lacey 9:00pm | $8 cover | 21+ only Darkroom - 2210 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago IL 60622
Hello MDRs, thanks for the heads up! I've been listening to your work alot and it reminds me of what the bands I grew up listening to would sound like now had they evolved appropriately and not gone to absolute shit. Now you've got more than a few reasons to be pretentious douches. :)
Hi friends!! incredible sound of "Senorita" thank for the post!!
well guys your sound is better than others bands. good job guys!! and please chek the myspace of my band http://www.myspace.com/concienciasmuertas Come to mexico soon!! you mexican friend
AWESOME!!!! LOVE THE NEW SONGS! And nooooo I do not miss the sideways rain! It was 90 degrees here yesterday, jumped in the ocean..yay! When you coming out this way? Come hang out with me on the beach!
Hey guys, well it's sort of on and off rain, but then sunshine, so I guess its not too bad! Hope it gets better in Chicago :) I checked out your new ep, it's fab, I really like it! Very different from the first song I ever heard of yours, but I like it :) Well done, shall get it off Itunes soon ;)
