...The first EP, Everpresent..contains six songs. Already the opener, "You Need This" convinces me downright. A catchy refrain, dominant drums and deliberate imbedded e-guitar parts play skillfully together. The seven and a half minute ballad "Embrace Me" invokes a dream. The cheery melody is carried from the varied drums and gets vitality through the beautiful vocals. All the six songs have their own character.  After this positive first impression, I'm very anxious for the second cd....
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.....Matthew handles the lead vocals, keyboards and drums on this EP, and the drums aren't simply sequenced or programmed: the drums are primarily acoustic! The acoustic drums lend a very neat edge to the songs here, a spontaneity that is very refreshing. The style of music is primarily Electronic Rock, with gothic, darkwave and synthpop elements blended in. 

With each song on the EP clocking in at over 5 minutes, each track is given plenty of time to fully develop a well textured melody, and in each case the opportunity is not wasted. "You Need This", with it's insistent pleading, immediately brought to mind Depeche Mode's "Walking In My Shoes", but this song is more punchy, with a staccato rhythm that is hypnotic. Just a excellent song. "Embrace Me" brings in a ambient influence for the very atmospheric 1:30 long intro, and that element is the bed over which the rest of the track is built on for the remaining 6 minutes. From the intro, the song goes into a Trip-hop feeling, with the emotional male lead vocals and breathy female backing vocals. 

"You Save Me" was a song that I was initially not that impressed with. But the very catchy chorus won me over quickly. The song is a bit expansive at 6 minutes, and could stand a radio edit version of 3-4 minutes in length, but otherwise was quite good. "Why Do You Do This To Me" is a slower, groove-laden track that, while not being one of the outstanding tracks on the EP, was still quite enjoyable. "Don't Stop" was one of those outstanding songs, though, with just about every element coming together just right to create a extremely impressive song. Sometimes the lyrics on this song don't flow completely smoothly, but overall the song is excellent. "Drowning" is another song that could benefit from a radio edit, as the 7+ minute version here really feels like it goes on too long. 

Overall, Everpresent present a very impressive debut here. The guitar-adverse out there might not care for some elements of the band's sound, but for those with open ears and minds, you will hear a band here that is extremely talented and has a lot of promise to become a truly special band!
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Matthew for years and years... well, ok 26 years and 9 months, at this point, has been obsessed with music.  Get my meaning?  It's beyond eating, sleeping, and drinking music, he IS music.  In the quality of his character I see his music and the quality of his music I see his character.  Now with Victoria and Verno, in Everpresent, I see the quality of his cohorts in making music.  Knowing his music individually, and now knowing Everpresent, I can say that Victoria and Verno and Matt are forming a perfect complement here.
  Their work so far, now in 2 album releases, began with this release, but I would say you'd have a hard time telling which is which.  This group is just good, period.  There is no sense of "well, they matured a lot in their 2nd release", or "man their first was great, but that 2nd sucked" ...like so many other bands here today and gone tomorrow.  Everpresent chose their name well, these guys & gal are sticking around.  This is the first, the foundation, the start, the beginning, and it demands to be heard. Your brain and your heart are thirsting for this.
  Ever since Matt and "Amy" sang together back in high school, I've been waiting for him join forces again with a skilled female vocalist and musician.  Victoria is perfect, with her lofty, inspiring, elevating vocals, haunting the backgrounds of the music in the foreground of your mind.  Not to leave out Verno!, this guy does amazing rhythmic work.  I know in part because of what I hear, and in part because it would take a genius for Matt to hand the percussing to him.  Verno is that genius.  I've never met Victoria and Verno, I have no clue who they are in person... but it's almost like you KNOW them after listening to Everpresent.
  There is a rare unity and expression here in this trinity.  If you've found them, and still have any doubts... just buy it.  You couldn't find a better CD to spend twice the money on in your local chain store even if you spent 3 days looking.  The Biochemist says... Get it!
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This cd has bite! From the first breath and scorching beats of "You Need This" to the ambient love cries of "Embrace Me", this cd definitely took me on a journey.  Interestingly, "You Save Me" stands out in its optimism, compared to the relative darkness of the other 5 tracks, and while this is a bit out-of place, it can be refreshing, giving you a break before launching into the cynical Nine-Inch-Nail-type groove of "Why Do You Do This to Me?"  A solid record with a shadowy, yet energetic vibe. Check it out.
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