The Test Drive: Meter Bridge – Filter/Kite

Electronica with passion is the best way to describe the latest outing from Canada’s own Meter bridge. Melding the eclectic with the melody and adding a bit of beat, Meter Bridge once again prove that the EDM genre is a force to be reckoned with.

Adding Mark LaFountain into the mix was a good move, and it shows. Meter Bridge seem to be going into a new direction with their new material and while I don’t think they are totally where they want to be yet, I believe they know where they’re headed. Check out our last review for “It Was Nothing” and notice the “evolution of their revolution”.

About Meter Bridge
On the trail of their recent single ‘It Was Nothing’, Canadian synthwave duo Meter Bridge have announced they will be releasing their latest maxi-single ‘Filter / Kite’ through WEATNU Records. It includes three tracks – ‘Filter’, ‘Kite’ and a Mind Veneration Remix by Mark LaFountain. The two original tracks for this new single feature catchy and crystal clear production with particular attention to the vocals. LaFountain’s output is a wicked club mix with a heavy groove, while the original version of ‘Kite’ features modular synthesis over a minor chord progression, unique quarter time percussion and staccato rhythm.

Hailing from Nelson, British Columbia, Richard Kleef and Jill Beaulieu have been playing together since 2011, creating a distinctive and unmistakable sonic identity as Meter Bridge, forged of minimalistic groove-infused alternative dance melodies that are seemingly retro and futuristic at the same time.

According to The Record Stache, which ranked their Slow Motion LP as the 8th best synthpop album of 2015, their music is “evocative of Man Machine period Kraftwerk, had the German four piece chosen to invent glitchcore on their way to perfecting technopop”.

“Our song ‘Filter’ is a song about persecution and about the complicated process of resistance and assimilation followed by reclamation of spirit and culture,” explains Jill Beaulieu. “For the video, film-maker Bryan Webb took our concept of invasion, assimilation and rescue, making it modern and mysterious. It was filmed in studio, as well on location, in several different nearby forests.”

“We are very pleased to be involved with Mark Lafountain. He was one of our earliest supporters and we value his work immensely. He added new life into this song, transforming it into something even better than the original,” says Jill Beaulieu.

Mark LaFountain has been creating and recording electronic music under the alias Mind Veneration since the late 1980’s. Mark’s new wave flavored remix of ‘Kite’ was inspired by some of his favorites, including ambient house pioneers The Orb.

“The synth bands of the early 80’s were amazing to me. Howard Jones, Thomas Dolby, Men Without Hats, Soft Cell, Naked Eyes… I couldn’t get enough of that synthetic sound,” explains Mark LaFountain. “I eventually stumbled upon the Meter Bridge track ‘Kite’ and I felt as though I were hearing a hidden gem from the likes of The Human League, which I’d never heard before. I played the track relentlessly!”

Meter Bridge is offering the new single as a free download via Bandcamp, similar to their previous single ‘It Was Nothing’ featuring remix by Rodney Cromwell). Meter Bridge will be playing the Electro London Festival on September 10, 2016 with Wolfgang Flür (ex-Kraftwerk), Shiny Darkness and others.

“Nods in the direction of early kraut electronica experimentations in the style of Kraftwerk, Alphaville, Falco and even early-phase Berlin… They have created a distinctive sonic identity for themselves, forged of minimalistic groove-infused alternative dance melodies” – Louder Than War

“Like a synth pop oddity that’s been dug up from a 1984 time capsule, its minimal sci-fi synths are redolent of the likes of early Human League or Kraftwerk. While each bar is riven with Jill Beaulieu’s vocals that are part exotic Grace Jones part clipped Debbie Harry attitude” – God is in the TV Zine

“Evocative of Man Machine period Kraftwerk, had the German four-piece chosen to invent glitchcore on their way to perfecting technopop” – The Record Stache

“Melodic synth swells, infectious percussion & that immense duel vocal attack…a band on the cusp of greatness. Perfection personified” – Primal Music Blog

“Refreshing addition to today’s synthpop scene, bringing in post-punk and new wave influences in ways unlike others” – Stereo Embers Magazine

“Electropop brilliance. Lucid combination of groove and offset melody… the spirit of Kraftwerk” – Jammerzine

LINKS:
http://www.meterbridge.ca/
http://www.facebook.com/meterbridgeband
http://twitter.com/Meter_Bridge
http://www.youtube.com/user/MeterBridge357/videos
http://soundcloud.com/jill-beaulieu
http://meterbridge.bandcamp.com/
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/meter-bridge/id904110086