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From Monument to Masses
"We need new noise..."
Location: New York, NY
Website: http://monument-masses.com/
Bio: While it's become increasingly difficult to refrain from rolling one's eyes whenever one hears the word, it's even harder not to use it when describing ... (more) From Monument to Masses. This San Francisco area three-piece, founded in late 2000, is constantly pushing the boundaries of instrumental post-rock --combining layers of guitar loops, driving polyrhythm and breakbeats, and sampled sound into emotional, ever-changing song structures. FMTM's music has always moved away from the pop music standards of lead vocals, verse-chorus-bridge song structures, and radio-friendly song lengths. But there is a conscious limit to their instrumental experimentation... a desire to stay away from the suffocating artiness of highbrow indie wankery in favor of tunes that remain grounded in driving rock sensibility. Among FMTM's influences, stand out artists like Refused, Fugazi, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and DJ Shadow who are particularly inspirational for their ability to combine progressive sounds with equally progressive political ideas. Living in the Bay Area, it's no wonder that their music celebrates political activism and a social change. The group has always held that art cannot exist independently from political struggle. With their latest album, "Schools of thought contend.", From Monument to Masses chose to collaborate with a diverse group of artists as well as record two new studio tracks. The result is an album that showcases the band's new musical directions and presents radical interpretations of songs from their previous full-length, "The Impossible Leap in One Hundred Simple Steps," with sounds ranging from indie and electronic pop to drum & bass and post-rock. "Schools of thought contend," is not some "throwaway" remix album but a true notch in FMTM's discography that the band attests is as vital, representative, and artistically challenging as its last two albums. (less)
March 29 2009
FROM MONUMENT TO MASSES SET TO HIT THE ROAD THIS APRIL!
Post-rock trio From Monument to Masses are hitting the road this April, just after releasing their new album "On Little Known Frequencies" (OUT ON DIM MAK RECORDS). The band's epic compositions burst with an intensity that demands being witnessed live. The guys will be joining Dredg and Torche on the stint, making it a must-see tour for fans of brainy, heavy rock.
From Monument To Masses are political but never preachy, direct but never literal. Their mostly instrumental new album conjures up images that are vivid but open to interpretation. Francis Choung (drums/programming), Matthew Solberg (guitar), and Sergio Robledo-Maderazo (bass/synthesizer) fit together like the brushstrokes of an abstract expressionist painter.
"On Little Known Frequencies" finds the band weaving an eclectic array of genres into their post-rock core. Inspired by everything from hip hop beats to classical string arrangements to the explosive energy of early hardcore, FMTM twist these styles to match their aesthetic instead of throwing out overt references. The album is also laden with spooky snippets of sampled dialogue, another example of the band's decision to stray away from simply saying what they feel.
The band's biggest asset might be that they are collectively blessed with astounding musical chops as well as the desire to use them in a tasteful manner. While so much instrumental music comes off as a means to showcase musicianship, FMTM are able to drop jaws through emotion.
US Tour Dates:
04/03: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater*
04/04: Bellingham, WA @ Nightlife Lounge*
04/05: Seattle, WA @ Neumos*
04/07: Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon*
04/08: Denver, CO @ Marquis*
04/10: Minnesota, MN @ Varsity*
04/11: Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews*
04/12: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle*
04/13: Detroit, MI @ Eagle Theater*
04/15: Boston, MA @ Middle East*
04/16: Philadelphia, PA @ TLA*
04/17: Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon*
04/18: Baltimore, MD @ Sonar*
04/19: New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom*
04/21: Raleigh, NC @ Brewery*
04/22: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade*
04/24: Orlando, FL @ Social*
04/25: Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Club*
04/26: Tampa. FL @ State Theater*
* = With Dredg and Torche
AS A BONUS: FMTM wants to offer you this NEW remix by Mixhell of FMTM's new single "Beyond God & Elvis". DOWNLOAD IT HERE! Do not for get to BUY THE ALBUM HERE or head to your local record store!
March 23 2009
DOWNLOAD THE MIXHELL REMIX OF "BEYOND GOD & ELVIS" FROM FMTM'S NEW ALBUM (ON LITTLE KNOWN FREQUENCIES)!
From Monument To Masses' "On Little Known Frequencies", their eagerly-anticipated fourth full-length release on Dim Mak Records / Downtown Records (OUT NOW) which they recorded and produced with Seattle, Washington's Matt Bayles (Minus The Bear, Russian Circles, Mastodon). "Beyond God and Elvis", the lead single of the album, is a post-rock anthem straight from the gut of this hard hitting, politically charged band. The bands poetic sentiment rings through both in the clever sample declaring "this machine don't give a shit" and in the passionately charged fluttering melody of their synthesizes and hard hitting crunchy riffs of their ever intricate guitar lines.
AS A BONUS this week, FMTM wants to offer you this NEW remix by Mixhell of FMTM's new single "Beyond God & Elvis". Mixhell is a husband and wife DJ duo/producer team based. Husband Iggor Cavalera is better known as the drummer of heavy-metal band Sepultura and is apt to live drumming during their performances. Though Iggor's background is in metal, you would never know it from the hard hitting electro beats of Mixhell. Mixhell's remix takes a different route and is on a darker feel. Our pr pitched it as a dancefloor idm track. it's another solid option to make the dance kids pee their pants. DOWNLOAD IT HERE!
BUY THE ALBUM HERE or head to your local record store!
February 25 2009
"On Little Known Frequencies" New Album By From Monument To Masses Out Now!
From Monument To Masses will be headlining at San Francisco's Bottom of the Hill this Thursday, February 26, as a part of the Bay's 17th annual Noise Pop Festival. The festival prides itself on providing exposure to emerging artists, many of whom have gone on to widespread acclaim, including the White Stripes, Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, Bright Eyes, The Donnas, Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco) and Silversun Pickups.
February 12 2009
From Monument To Masses Radio Contest! Win Win Win!
The From Monument to Masses album “On Little Known Frequencies” is hitting college radio and WE NEED YOUR HELP! This phenomenal post-rock instrumental album is destined for the ears of indie-rock radio listeners nationwide, especially the college kids out there searching for the freshest, new rock outfit to tell all their lab partners about.
January 29 2009
EXCLUSIVE NEW DOWNLOAD: From Monument To Masses - Beyond God & Elvis + Defeaning
Bay- area post-rock trip, From Monument To Masses, have a long history with Dim Mak, back to when Steve Aoki (Label Owner) and FMTM's Matthew Solberg were college buddies at UCSB. The first released sounds via Dim Mak were in 2002 with the band's self-titled debut release. That release was then followed up by second album "The Impossible Leap..." and 2005's critically acclaimed remixes/rework album "Schools of Thought Contend". We have decided to offer you a FREE download from "Schools of Thought Contend", the track 'Deafening', the addictive and haunting lead-off track. The giveaways do not stop there! Also available for download is "Beyond God & Elvis", another (Felix Cartal Remix was released last week on Rcrd Lbl) taste from the new album (out soon), "On Little Known Frequencies". OUT NOW: From Monument To Masses' "Beyond God & Elvis" single with remixes by Mixhell, Designer Drugs, & Felix Cartal.
Exclusive Download: From Monument to Masses - Deafening
Exclusive Download: From Monument to Masses - Beyond God & Elvis
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