I've often written about my preference for duos and trios. Usually I've got the feeling that the music which is made by bands of two or three persons have a more sincere and natural sound. At least the music is often less complicated. This doesn't mean that a larger band isn't able to make beautiful music, but I like my music simple and casual. There are a lot of fine twosomes and threesome in the indie scene like The Like Young (who have stopped making music), Two Gallants, Pants Yell! and Xiu Xiu. And I think that the American duo Mates of State does belong in this list.Keyboard player Kori Gardner and drummer Jason Hammel are not just Mates of State, they are also 'mates of marriage'. The duo started over ten years ago in Lawrence, Kansas. After California and Connecticut their new home is New York. Their first album "My Solo Project" came out in 2000 o the Omnibus label, but it was later re-released on Polyvinyl. That's also where "Our Constant Concern" (2002) and "Team Boo" (2003) were released. At the end of 2005 thet signed a contract with Barsuk Records and they released "Bring It Back" in 2006 and the same label has now released the latest album "Re-Arrange Us" by Mates of State. The music of Kori and Jason is still based on drums, keyboards and the voices of both musicians, but the organ of the earlier records has been replaced by the piano and synthesizer.
>mp3: My Only Offer
>mp3: Think Long (from "Bring It Back")