Metro Area’s popularity peaked with the release of their album all the way back in 2002, but both members have continued on making excellent music together and separately ever since. Darshan Jesrani‘s output has not received the accolades that Morgan Geist’s has, but that has never been due to lack of quality. Using disco as a touchstone, projects like Arcade Lover (with Escort’s Dan Balis), Funn City, and Cylinder have dropped a variety of iterations of the sound that cover a lot of musical ground (the latter two projects on his own Startree label). Siren, his collaboration with Dennis Kane of the Disques Sinthomme label, is signed to Compost and definitely reaches for a different sound.
“A/Way” utilizes guest musicians including Sal Principato of Liquid Liquid and James Duncan to achieve a live feel that is heavy on yacht rock and balearic vibes. Mr. Reed’s lilting vocals make this a catchy enough song that a “Radio Edit” is unironically included in the package; the instrumentation and songwriting are strong enough that it would be a treat to hear this one the radio in any era. This is a perfect warm weather jam, and playing it has been helping me enjoy this late summer heat wave.