VOLTA DO MAR
reviews of AV016 self-titled EP

GIANT ROBOT (http://www.giantrobot.com/)
These guys sent an e-mail saying they're better than The Fucking Champs, yet sound nothing like them. But can they really defeat the brilliance of Tim Green? Actually, they sound like a fast paced Tortoise. It's instrumental, it actually rocks, and sounds like intense jazz sometimes. If your a fan of progressive art rock music, then these guys will find a place in your CD tray. It's not nighttime music; it's daytime brain-twisting music. Three songs only, but all strong. (EN) Issue #21 "Art Attack"

ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER (http://www.illinoisentertainer.com/)
The entirely instrumental, self-titled, three-song EP from Volta Do Mar would certainly be an interesting CD to add to your collection. For the most part, an entirely laid back release, the band isn't hesitant in the least, however, to use their guitars on track like "Munich Air Disaster," even going so far as to rock a little (DR) February 2001

IMPACT PRESS (http://www.impactpress.com)
This instrumental quartet features two bassists, one guitarist and one drummer. Like now defunct math-rock outfit Don Caballero, they like to pluck their instruments in beautiful and repetitive patterns that don't feature distortion. They are also fond of time and tempo changes.

SPLENDID (http://splendidezine.com/)
So for all you record label folks: if you want [to be a pick of the week], send me a full-length album that's as consistently good as this EP. This Illinois quartet works the same post/math-rock turf mined by countless other bands, but they do it with a verve and energy the others lack. What's the secret? Frankly, I think these guys haven't forgotten that half of post-rock is ROCK. Rather than languidly slouching their way through their chosen repetitive sequences, these guys hurl themselves into the music, dishing up melodies with surgical precision and turn-on-a-dime riffs. They hit the usual jazz landmarks, too, but this jazz isn't plodding and dull -- it's seething hot stuff that makes your arm hair stand up. I've heard a lot of bands with the same basic sound as Volta Do Mar, but almost none of them managed to communicate their vitality and love of their music as well as these guys. When a band is into the music, the audience follows suit. Please, bring on a full-length. (GZ)

FRICTION MAGAZINE (http://frictionmagazine.com)
Volta Do Mar means "turn of the sea" in Portuguese, which is an apt term to describe the waves of sound and splashes of audible color from this Illinois instrumental quartet. Nary a math rock head should spin at the vibrant rolls through thoughts and ideas in each ditty. Could be background music, but catches too much attention to deviate. All of their tunes, all of 3, include some faction of transport, or at least some by-way there of. Sea, air and mass transit all make the cut. None of the tracks idle long enough for you to get out and push; these guys keep it on a mellow gear and ride you all the way to that dim lighted lounge off in the distance. They are well on their way to composing their first novel from this lucid short story. (MW)

LOST AT SEA (http://www.lostatsea.net)
There is an indie rock mad scientist quality at work here on the debut EP by Chicago mathematicians Volta Do Mar.

What we have here is obviously the work of some twisted individuals, who must have their hands on some pretty screwy equipment. As evident by the insanely brilliant six-string mastery displayed on the EP, it seems as if the boys in Volta Do Mar have somehow managed to graft 15 fingers on each hand of guitarist Phil Taylor. Apparently, they have also come under the technology to give drummer Tony Cerualo about 8 arms and the endurance of a mountain lion. Six string bassist Mike Baldwin and five string bassist Jeff Wojtysiak could possibly be Siamese twins separated at birth, then brought together by the forces of Volta Do Mar, to intertwine the melody lines that hold this band of mutants together.

If my predictions are untrue, then I have no idea how this EP could have been crafted by the hands of mere mortals. It would be impossible for a "normal" human being to produce the light-speed guitar fluctuations heard on the final track, "Mass Transit Highway(s)," without some form of assistance.

Could it be that Volta Do Mar are actually robots, kicking out the jams Terminator style? Their flesh could be simply a mask to the circuit boards and other robotic doohickeys that lie beneath. Look closely enough, next time they play live, and you may actually see those familiar red pupils behind the unassuming eyes of Taylor (or it could be the marijuana, as members of this band assumed the name of Hashbrown in prior incarnations).

It could be though, as shown excellently on the driving and groovy "…Is the Turn of the Sea," that Volta Do Mar may hold the secret formula, a potion if you will, that enables them to conjure up the instrumental prowess of greats like Don Caballero, Trans Am, Ghosts and Vodka, Tortoise, King Crimson, and the Police, combine them into one liquefied state, and down it all in one quick shot.

The secret of Volta Do Mar may never be discovered, but what is set plainly clear on this complex, engaging, and short but sweet EP, is that the talent held by the band is simply unfuckwithable. (Ryan Allen) February 2001

DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY (http://www.adequacy.net)
There was something about Volta Do Mar's EP that struck me. I couldn't put my finger on what it was about this instrumental band that stood out to me. Finally, oddly enough after dozens of listens and not before, I pulled out the card inside and noticed the band uses both a five- and six-string bass. It's that dual-bass attack, coupled with guitar and drums, that adds a little extra flare to these songs.

This Illinois band plays a style of flowing math-rock-style instrumentals. Unlike some of their Chicago-area counterparts, this isn't really post-rock, although there are some jazz-like breakdowns to the guitar and experimental flourishes. They use complex time signatures, melodic guitar, and intricate combination of bass and drums to create songs that flow in an almost organic method.

We start with "…is the Turn of the Sea," a wonderful flowing track that goes from faster and more chaotic to soft and even sweet. And while the guitar and drums really take center stage, that double-bass ties this song together, at times almost performing unaccompanied in the quieter and more mood-intensive moments. "Munich Air Disaster" is a bit more rocking, the guitar often ripping off chords before going into more melodic notes. But, like its predecessor, this one runs the gambit from loud and fast to quiet and subdued. There's more guitar noodling on this track, almost free-style jamming even with some heavier riffs than you'd expect. And the last track, "Mass Transit Highway(s)," is more technical than the first two, with even more rapid time changes and complex guitar work. It has some very nice, mellow moments, though.

The only complaint with the three tracks on Volta Do Mar's EP is that the songs tend to run together. There's not one thing about any of these songs that really makes it feel different from the rest. Instead of three songs, this band changes styles and intensity often enough that this could be one 17-minute track and it would be just as good. This band, whose name roughly translates to Turn of the Sea in Portuguese, is almost impeccably tight, and their own brand of flowing instrumental rock is stellar. I can't wait to hear more. (Jeff)

INVISIBLE YOUTH (http://www.invisibleyouth.com)
Contains three catchy and poppy instrumentals with hooks that even a vegan fish would bite. Similar to such bands as Euphone and Tortoise but more poppy, quirkier, and not afraid to throw a little distortion on every now and then to keep you awake on that late night stretch to get your final english report done. I am impressed and would definitely like to hear more than these three songs, even though they average about six minutes a piece. The fact that they don't mind to change up the tempos and time meters shows that they must have completed trigonometry if not calculus. They even have two bass players: one with a five string and the other with a six string. It all adds up to equal something pretty genius. Don't forget the distortion or you might screw your paper up. (KC)

SPANK (http://www.spankzine.com)
Three songs. Seventeen and a half minutes. Instrumental. Twinkling. Mathy. "Munich Air Disaster", "Mass Transit Highway(s)" and "... Is the Turn of the Sea" all present as layered, in-depth studies of how much range and repetition an instrument can withstand in the confines of a single song structure. (Michelle)

EMPTY BOTTLE NEWS LETTER (http://www.emptybottle.com)
The music of VOLTA DO MAR features complex time signatures wrought with epic sonic eruptions and gentle, calming resurgences. A performance here in April really caught our attention, and it seems the group may have to assume 'up and comer' status. (July 2001 Promo Kit)

THE POINTER (Univ. Wisc. Steven's Point) (http://www.uwsp.edu/stuorg/pointer/)
There is a form of music on the rise. One that will keep you guessing, one that will make you question just what's going on in the mastermind behind this insanity and one that will likely bypass mainstream because it is just too much for your average pop cultured, radio-head to handle.

This mesmerizing breed of musicians have a metronomic intuition which is constantly being exercised.  Allowed very little think time, these performers still must be perpetually counting, listening intently and reading the other band-mates minds and moves. The depth of genius behind the crisp new sounds created in this genre of rock and roll are something that must be experienced live.  This is the dawning of mathematical rock.

At the bow of this yacht of acuteness and frenzy is Volta Do Mar. Literally translated from a Portuguese term, we get Turn of the Sea. The sea isn't the only thing that's turning for this band however. Having signed with Arborvitae Records, the tides will be turning and this talented foursome will be busy touring as well as cutting an album.

I acquired the band's self-titled CD at their last show in the area which was at the Mission Coffee House and was blown away by the variety between the three instrumental tunes featured on the disc. Variations in time signatures, modulations and dynamics were laid down in a way that, despite all the detail, flowed along with amazing amounts of cohesiveness.

Live, the band is unmatched. For one thing, the were so tight that they didn't even need to go through the house sound system (which was fortunate for them). They had their levels set and were ready to rock like the pros in no time, and rock is what they did.

With two bassists, one commanding a five- string and the other, showing everyone in the audience how a six-string is meant to be played, deep reverberating melodies found their way from the stage to the crowd.  It's a rarity in itself to come across a bass player who uses more than the E and A strings in the first place!

One could have gotten lost trying to follow the lead guitarist's nimble fingers dancing ferociously across the neck of his instrument, while adding subtle vocals to the mix.

Your classic skit set up, drummer in back, behind the band, facing the audience was replaced with the Volta Do Mar stage arrangement.  The drummer set up in front with his back to the audience, facing the band to create and incredible intimacy among band-mates.

A thrilling performance and plenty of charisma is what you get when you're a part of a Volta Do Mar show. I'll keep you folks posted as to when these boys will be back in town because I wouldn't want any of you to miss the chance to see them. Also watch for their full length album to be released in the fall.  (Sash Bartick)