M O M E N T U M
Debut Album
F I R S T G E A R
Out Now!
1. Tralience
2. Ella
3. Idyllwild
4. Baja
5. Hard Time
6. So Alone
7. Mondsee
8. Shapeshifter
9. Kaleidoscope
10. Soft Broken
11. Dark Red
A l b u m P r e s s R e l e a s e
After a year and a half, Will Bardini and Jarom Guthrie of Momentum have finalized their debut album, First Gear. Friends for more than a decade, Bardini and Guthrie have taken their love of music to a new level by co-writing and co-producing an album that blends familiar sounds from different genres- techno, IDM, drum and bass, ambient and experimental- in a distinct and creative manner that is both surprising and impressive. Heavily influenced by electronic greats (such as Underworld, Orbital, Fluke, Leftfield & Massive Attack), their first album is a poignant, if sporadic collection of tracks that can be best described as a musical reflection of their life experiences and friendship. First Gear not only showcases Momentum's musical style and development- it also reveals Bardini and Guthrie's ability to combine different genres and musical ideas into one coherent whole.
A l b u m D e s c r i p t i o n
First Gear is an album that is raw, emotive and unique. With tracks ranging from techno to house, ambient to experimental, MomentuM has created an album that is sure to engender many more.
The album kicks off with the potent, hard-hitting dance-floor favorite Tralience. Influenced heavily by industrial rock, this track builds power as it goes, gradually combining ambient/house sounds with a harder industrial beat, and then finishes off with a dirty guitar riff. Track two, Ella (Spanish, pronounced AEE-yah), switches into smooth techno, driven by a generous beat in combination with distorted synths and bass lines that trade playfully back and forth, building to a climatic and abrupt ending. Track three, Idyllwild, starts with a unusually beautiful marimba and flute duet, followed by a haunting, echoing synth that leaves the listener wanting more as the track builds towards an epic climax with a tribal drum beat. Track four, Baja, follows with layers of ambiental sounds, drum beats and catchy hooks that blend with sounds of waves and wind. Track five, Hard Time, gets moving with an aggressive and dominant synth line that is accentuated by a driving triplet-based beat with interchanging syths and distorted ambient melodies. Track six, So Alone, starts with a forlorn rhoades keyboard riff, coupled with a pop electro sounds. The soft strains blend with heavy techno synths and beats that gradually blend back into a repeat of the opening melody, this time with a twist. Track seven, Mondsee blends dark synth pads, electric guitar and piano chords with a beat that makes a staggering entrance. Shapeshifter, track eight, is an ambitious three part IDM tour de force. The first section is built around a guitar loop that morphs into full, electronic landscapes with stumbling beats in the middle section. In the third section a driving beat is introduced and the whole track hurtles towards an exhausting finish. Track nine, Kaleidoscope, is a serene combination of psychedelic drum and bass with a touch of an ambient piano that sits lightly on top of a resounding bass line. Track ten, Soft Broken, is a simple and beautiful combination of several acoustic guitar loops layered with processed electronic effects and a rock drum beat. The final track, Dark Red starts with a light-hearted synth bed that is soon juxtaposed with violent sounds (gunfire, air raid sirens, babies crying to name a few) that are further emphasized with an aggressive, distorted beat that makes a lasting impression.
A b o u t T h e B a n d
MOMENTUM consists of Will Bardini and Jarom Guthrie. Groups that have had an important influence on their music include Underworld, Massive Attack, Fluke, Leftfield, Orbital, and Lamb.
In November of 2006, Solitude Entertainment Inc. commissioned the duo to compose two songs for a film featured at a student film festival. Laster that year Bardini and Guthrie were contacted online and invited to write the soundtrack for an additional short film, which they completed early 2007. Shortly after, Solitude Entertainment hired the band for a second time to write seven other songs used for promotional videos for the University of Utah's Engineering Department. In early 2007 the band sponsered a remix competition for their music and had over 200 participants with more than 70 completed remixes submited (listen to remixes here). They have written dozens of tracks and continue hard at work in their home-based studio.
BARDINI is a 25 year old originally from Southern California. Bardini is a self-taught musician and excels in music composition and classical guitar performance. Bardini has studied classical guitar privately and performed professionally at several venues. Bardini's first love is music, but he also enjoys movies, biking, racquetball, and snowboarding. He has lived and traveled throughout Western Europe and speaks several languages, including fluent Spanish and Finnish.
GUTHRIE is also a 25 year old originally from Southern California. Guthrie studied trumpet privately with one of the most renowned instructors in the L.A. area for over ten years. In high school Guthrie attended the Idyllwild Arts Academy on a full scholarship for music performance. As a member of several international orchestras, he has toured Europe twice with various performing groups. His passion is music and he also enjoys film and reading. Guthrie has lived in South America and speaks fluent Spanish.
S p e c i a l T h a n k s
To all of our friends and family: Thank you for your love, help, understanding and support. Thanks to all you listeners out there, too. Keep the comments and emails coming-- we love to hear from you!
