Insound Staff Pick - 2008! Mates of State are the ultra-likeable, über-intriguing duo of Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner. The couple is a non-stop touring presence whose live chemistry is genuinely magical. He sits behind the drum kit and sings, she plays a vintage Yamaha organ and sings.

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Mates of State's unique, often complex, and always catchy pop gems defy genre boundaries. This husband/wife duo has released three previous full-lengths as well as numerous singles and EPs. Though a duo, they never fail to generate an abundance of melody and harmony via monster, bass-heavy organ, creative drumming, and alternately lushly layered and playfully dueling vocals. "Bring It Back" is Mates Of State at their complex yet lighthearted best: impeccably layered music that rewards attention, analysis, a   [ read more ]

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Mates of State began a year and a half ago in preparation for a supposed move across country from Kansas. Kori (organ) and Jason (drums) had each been playing guitar and singing in a band tagged Vosotros, but knew it wasn't probable for all members to relocate. For fun, they both sat down behind their primary instruments and decided to re-hone their skills from childhood. They soon found themselves belting out harmonious songs with unique structures based loosely around the haunting sounds of an old Yamaha    [ read more ]

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A true labor of love, in every sense of the phrase, Mates of State began a couple of years ago in preparation for a move across country from Lawrence, Kansas. Kori (organ) and Jason (drums) had each been playing guitar and singing in a band tagged Vosotros, but knew it wasn't likely that all members would relocate. For fun, they both sat down behind their primary instruments and decided to try a different combination. What gradually evolved was a knack for belting out harmonious songs with truly unique stru   [ read more ]

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Four new songs of reinvention tinged with underlying familiarity. Combining segues of instrumentation and melody that crescendo into beautiful harmony, the opening track is an instant classic and sets an apt tone for All Day. Track two leans heavily on vocal harmonies and is adorned by a brief acoustic guitar solo. Track three takes a minimalist approach as a bare piano track accompanies alternated vocals before subdued drumming and vocal harmonies take over. The most widely talked about song, howeve   [ read more ]

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Though conceived as a duo, Mates of State have never failed to generate a trademark wall of sound built on dozens of varied voicings of keys, drums, and alternately lushly-layered and playfully-dueling vocals. On re-arrange us they move beyond these boundaries (their traditional organ sound is a distant memory, replaced with organic piano and synth sounds) with additional instrumentation -- not to mention a quantum leap in songcraft apparent on instantly indelible gems like now, jigsaw and get better. Throu   [ read more ]

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