Audio By Carbonatix
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In 2002, amidst a flurry of ironic, retro-referencing new-new-wave and electoclash offerings, Metro Area (Morgan Geist & Darshan Jesrani) proved to be the era’s exception. Melding the black disco sound of the early ’80s with Detroit techno’s gritty cold futurism and Chicago house’s abstract track modes, they created a true aural shift in the dance landscape. Their self-titled album was dubbed one of the year’s top 50 albums by Rolling Stone, the “dance album of the year” by BBC Radio 1 and the “best new artist album” by DanceStar/American Dance Awards. Soon, techno, house and electro DJs alike were clamoring to get Metro Area’s signature deep funky grooves into their bins.
Even after the retro hype machine stalled and the ’80s revival became as limp as last year’s fauxhawk, Metro Area’s sound and status remained. After all, their sound was always dedicated to the funk, not the fluff. Hits like 1999’s “Atmosphrique,” 2000’s “Caught Up” and 2001’s stunning and massively successful “Miura” aren’t just throwbacks–they pay respect and even reverence to the past. It’s rare that an act as avant-garde as Metro Area graces our fair city’s dance scene. Let’s hope the funk devotees are listening.
