Album Notes

The reasons why we make music are infinite. The noise the four of us create as Modus is the product of four different backgrounds and four different sets of circumstances. But our most basic common bond is having grown up in the cultural black hole that is central New York State. Although it sounds like an unlikely source of creativity, we have found quite the contrary to be true. In fact, it has proven fertile ground for frequent daydreaming and countless attempts at crafting a good song. Since the inception of Modus in early 2001, it has been our intent to present a diverse and substantial musical alternative to the usual three chord teen anthem, and to provide a catalyst for listeners who seek to explore deeper waters than rock radio typically offers. Whether or not we have been successful is your decision.

The Philosophy...
Individually, our influences originate from a broad spectrum of styles and tastes. Modus prefers to avoid being pigeonholed into any one style of music, and instead would like to be thought of as simply a group of like-minded musicians. But when forced to label our music, we call it "picture music." We hope our music takes you on a distinctive and intense journey-a journey that is colored with light and darkness, leaving you strangely unsettled somewhere in between. It is not the destination that is important, but the time spent on the trip. To whom we connect with and listen to for musical inspiration is not as important as who connects with and listens to us. What people identify with and can draw upon in the music of Modus is what is most important, not imitating a current popular trend or cashing in on the latest wave of pop culture style.

The Music...
Musically, Modus writes its material as a unit. Individual ideas may come to the fore, but they must pass through the filters of each member before becoming a piece of the puzzle. In the end, everyone's contributions and performances are equally fundamental to the development and completion of the song. We are committed to composing music that is interesting and unexpected, yet not pretentious or confusing. We are seeking not to exclude, but rather to include as many different listeners from as many different musical backgrounds as we can. By forming a hybrid between "old school" philosophies (musicianship, songwriting, performance) and "new school" philosophies (technology, experimentation, atmosphere), we believe we have created a unique sound that does not and will not lend itself to any one particular genre. This allows our artistic freedom to flourish, and perhaps enables us to broaden the horizons of some of the listening public who may not very often be exposed to groups such as ours.

The EP...
The five songs on our self-titled EP are our first attempt at stating our artistic perspective. Headphones are highly recommended. This is not music to be listened to at birthday parties or as background noise at the office. This is music to absorb and enjoy-to soak up its atmosphere and temporarily dive inside our minds. Lyrically, the songs are concise enough to understand, but ambiguous enough to allow free interpretation. "Soul Fascist" deals with a megalomaniac character who is bent on the submission of others. "Eraser" touches on feelings of inexplicable loss and the inability to replace it. "Slice Of Life" conveys the fears and consequences of creeping mortality in our modern-day society. "No Voices" depicts a fearless existence of total alienation and isolation. Lastly, "The Worm Turns" illustrates man's fascination with technological advances and industrialization that hold no regard for their human benefactors. Several months were spent on the recording and production of the EP, and much of the attention was focused on maximizing the listening experience so that the material would maintain a fresh sense of vitality on repeated plays.

On Playing Live...
When playing live, we do all that we can to represent our recorded material to its fullest. Some of the subtleties that exist on record are streamlined or left out completely, according to what is correct for the music to be at its best. A live performance needs to connect with an audience on different levels than a recording. Modus shows are in some ways more interesting, more visceral, and definately where we as a band feel the most comfortable. Some songs take on new lives in the form of extended jams, modified arrangements, and improvised ending sections. These audio adjustments are then coupled with our unique vision of what it is to see a band onstage performing, and the various means by which we can manipulate our listeners with random images and abstract short scenes. These assorted visuals (also sometimes entire movies) provide the listener with a new way to enjoy and experience the music through the eyes as well as the ears. To stimulate and satisfy any and all the senses is at the heart of what Modus is about.

In The End...
When you break it down, all of these words and all of our explanations and examples are worthless. You will either like the music we have created, or you will not. Hopefully you will enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoy writing and playing it. While we realize we cannot appeal to everyone, we are certain of one thing: those who have either seen Modus perform or have heard the music as it has been recorded will have experienced music that is as genuine, passionate, individual, and original as we can possibly make it.