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The Meeting Places – Photo courtesy of The Meeting Places
Los Angeles-based shoegaze/post-punk quartet The Meeting Places is comprised of, count ‘em, four guitarists: Scott McDonald, Chase Harris, Dean Yoshihara, and Arthur Chan. They formed the band in September of 2001 with a shared interest in acts that include the renowned Spacemen 3, My Bloody Valentine, and Ride.
The Meeting Places have released two albums, their debut being Find Yourself Along the Way (Words On Music, 2003), which was recorded at The Ship studios with The Breeders and Elliott Smith producer Aaron Espinoza. The record appeared on the Top Albums of 2003 lists of several publications around the world, with critics noting the record’s crafty juxtaposition of noise-pop, atmospheric rock, and tunefulness.
Their second LP, Numbered Days, was produced by Grandaddy’s Jim Fairchild and was released worldwide by Words On Music in October 2006. It earned excellent reviews on notable publications like Spin, Pop Matters, and All Music, among others.
In 2017 the band began to play select shows across Los Angeles while working on brand new material which made its way onto a new EP titled You and I. This EP will arrive May 24th on CD and digital and July 26 on vinyl, all via Saint Marie Records.
The Big Takeover is thrilled to be hosting the premiere of the whole You and I EP today, a week before its release. The Meeting Places are known for the signature expansive sound and it can be found all over the record, which is the band’s first new material in over a decade. All four fresh tracks resound with waves of spreading guitar reverberations.
The title track and EP-opener flies the skies with post-punk bass line drive, gritty but luminous, spiraling outwards guitar whirl, sustained, glowing synths press, emphatic drum beats and cymbals hits, and halfway-hopeful vocals sung from a slight distance.
“Patricia Jane” melds the dark shadows and restlessness of post-punk with bending and incandescent shoegaze guitar glory. Propulsive “Stay The Same” sweeps by with heightened guitar radiation, a running bass line, and pushing-forward drumwork.
More relaxed last track “Fallout” recalls the suspended and cascading guitar glory of Slowdive, emanating a calming vibe while still maintaining The Meeting Places’ trademark scintillating and rising guitar distortion.
Pre-order You and I EP at Saint Marie
