World Color will blindside the unsuspecting with rich melodies and harmonies!

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Brian Jones and Maury Haymore have been playing music together since they were teenagers. After high school, they moved to Washington DC and brought the music to the burgeoning punk scene there. The Blue Thumbs! could be found playing the local clubs and many packed houses and long nights later, Island Records took notice, and brought the band to New York City by way of Nassau, Bahamas. This brought classically-trained Evan Richey, a producer and recording artist at the time, into the group.

Today the ensemble has involved into World Color, releasing their EP, “Convergent” and brand new single, “The Mighty Hero” out on iTunes through Like A Champ Records. The recordings feature Brian Jones – Guitar/Vocal, Evan Richey – Cello/Vocal, Maury Haymore – Drums and John Ray – Bass.

On these fulfilling and masterful tracks, World Color have written and produced some of the most capricious, captivating, and delicious melodies anyone has written in years. I cannot easily recall the last time I heard melodies and harmonies this charming, with notes so varied yet perfectly seamed and intertwined.

Listening to World Color is like falling into a gargantuan daydream. The music is chimerical, the lyrics are poetic, and the sound is rich and harmonious. And if you’re thinking this translates into simple, tedious and unaffecting songs – wrong! The band deliver dynamic, energy-filled arrangements with a plethora of tones and timbres – it’s just they’re very harmonious. World Color do not assault your ears, they caress and excite them!

It’s safe to say that there is no doubt as to the level of talent World Color possesses. With this EP, they reserve their place as one of the more provocative and catchy bands deserving airplay. From the opening track, “Ok Cupid”, the atmospheric layers of sound are complemented by confident drums and the ever present pensive lyric and soaring vocals. Confidence is a good description for this. I get the feeling that World Color should no longer be relishing their indie status, but rather have much ‘bigger’ priorities.

Brian Jones’ voice is a crucial component. His melodic sense is naturally strong, finding incredible paths for his vocals to follow, through the songs. All the music is interesting, well-played, and involving. And songs like “Into My Heart” and “These Moments” use a personal idiom that makes emotional sense to any listener.

I think the World Color is a phenomenal musical collective that have absolutely outdone themselves on this Ep. There is a seamless, steady, rich feel to this music, not least of which is supplied by Evan Richey’s soul-stirring cello. It’s marvelous because World Color really don’t sound like anyone else recording at present; they’re unique. Even more so with the 8-minute-long “The Mighty Hero” which adds a modern electronic twist to the band’s naturally organic sound.

World Color may appear regular and unassuming, but they’ll blindside the unsuspecting with haunting cellos, jangly guitar riffs, clockwork but creative drumming from Maury Haymore, playful bass-lines by John Ray and incredibly sung melodies that roll out in refreshingly unfamiliar patterns – creating terrific fuel for emotional souls.