Yet another of the Athens, GA, experimentalists,
Maserati picked up where bands like
Tortoise,
Macha, and
Labradford left off with complex, warmly textured instrumental music straying from the confines of rock to explore the ambient, jazz, and even modern classical traditions. The four piece of Coley Dennis (guitar), Steve Scarborough (bass), Phil Horan (drums), and Matt Cherry (guitar) began playing together in early 2001. After several months, they recorded and self-released 37:29:24, a moody blend of space rock expansiveness and scatter-bursts of
Slint-like aggression. In 2002, they met again in producer
Andy Baker's studio Chase Park (where albums by
Macha, the
Mendoza Line, and
Jucifer have been recorded) to record
The Language of Cities, the band's first label-backed album on the indie pop clearinghouse Kindercore. The eight-song album continues their exploration of emo-tinged instrumental rock best exemplified in the track "The Language," a seven-minute plus opus of sustained cymbal build ups, churning guitar, and
John McEntire-style fills. ~ Daphne Carr, All Music Guide