‘Tera Melos’ matures style

Transitioning them from dissonant, under-produced math rock to cold-calculated, melodic mastery, Tera Melos' recent release "Patagonian Rats" marks a point of stylistic maturity for the trio.

It is not to say that their previous albums and EPs are in any way subpar or rudimentary, but just lacking a portion of the acute definition and structure that makes "Patagonian Rats" feel whole.

Tera Melos manages to fuse its signature break beat technicality with newly adept vocals and harmonies to create a dynamic, more easily digested product.

But for some of us, this difficulty in digestion was half the fun. It challenged our ability to sense the subtlest accents amid a cloudy cacophony of erratic time signature changes and spastic drum and string melodies.

But the well-pressed presentation of "Patagonian Rats" only enhances and clarifies their overall style.

The upbeat, poppy cadence of the former, riddled with melodic and speedy riffs, sways fluidly from catchy choruses to twitchy and sporadic bits of instrumentality.

"Another Surf" undercuts this more conventional harmony entirely. An accelerated joyride through the rhythmic discord of horns, strings, percussion and synthesized sounds, it echoes the grinding and uninhibited interludes the band often floats into live.

Though little else on the album is as clearly akin to their experimental, pedal tweaking past as is this song, it is their ability to blend these elements with the unpredictable yet synergic structure that makes the rest of this album so outstanding and innovative.

In addition, the introduction of consistently dominant vocals to this album doesn't distract from the musical complexity.

Vocalist, guitarist and synth player Nick Reinhart's singing cements the sometimes wandering melodies and effectively accentuates the harmony in a way that is refreshing.

This is made evident in, "Party with Gina," the longest song of the album, which is almost extensive and inclusive enough to summarize the band's newly perfected style altogether.

Poppy and playful in its beginning, "Party with Gina" winds its way into the intricate and tranquil guitar work of Nick Reinhart, then segueing into a distorted, effect-heavy breakdown nearly one-third of the song in length.

Progressing in feeling from the optimistic and upbeat to the vulnerable and destitute, with its tugging syncopation and unorthodox combination of chords, Tera Melos' music has a way of evoking emotion and sincerity. Though not a new skill of the band, it has taken on a more reminiscent feel in "Patagonian Rats."

Contact Adam Oliver at aoliver.advocate@gmail.com.