EP: World Over by Intercontinen7al

TWENTY-ONE ARTISTS, FIVE TRACKS, AND ONE EP – ALL VIRTUAL!

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Few projects capture the essence of global unity quite like World Over, the latest EP by INTERCONTINEN7AL. This ambitious release, recorded virtually over four years, brings together 21 musicians from every corner of the globe—Antarctica included—to produce a collection of five genre-defying tracks. The result is a testament to the power of collaboration in the digital age, where boundaries dissolve, and creativity thrives.

At its core, World Over reflects the unique soundscape shaped by the band’s diverse lineup, which draws inspiration from icons like Pearl Jam, Tool, Prince, and The Beatles. From the haunting acoustic tones of “Night Shift,” which opens with a chilling guitar riff recorded on Antarctica’s icy terrain, to the Latin-infused energy of “No Somos De Este Lugar,” the EP traverses an array of musical landscapes. Progressive rock, bossa nova, acoustic balladry, and hard rock all converge seamlessly, creating a vivid mosaic of global influences.

What sets this EP apart is its innovative creation process. Born out of the COVID-19 lockdowns, INTERCONTINEN7AL began as a project by members of the Maryland-based band Toast, who sought to keep making music despite live performance limitations. Utilizing BandLab, a digital platform for remote music collaboration, the group expanded beyond their local circle to recruit talent from every continent. This ambitious endeavor even included reaching out to researchers stationed in Antarctica, securing a truly unprecedented global lineup.

Each track on World Over represents the collective effort of musicians working across time zones and cultural boundaries. For instance, “Manor Hill,” a sprawling progressive rock piece, stands as a historical milestone as the first song ever to feature instrumentation recorded on all seven continents. Meanwhile, songs like “When I’m Gone” and “Aslin” (transformed into “No Somos De Este Lugar”) showcase the band’s ability to blend styles and languages into cohesive and dynamic arrangements.

Technically, the EP shines with expert mixing and production, largely handled by Matthew Smith (USA) and Marcin Nawrocki (Poland), who utilized BandLab’s chat and file-sharing features to refine the final sound. The recording process itself was equally groundbreaking, with musicians contributing from home studios and rented spaces using an assortment of digital audio workstations and interfaces.

INTERCONTINEN7AL’s achievement is not just a musical triumph but a testament to human connection and ingenuity. In an age where virtual collaborations are increasingly common, World Over sets a new benchmark, proving that music has no borders, no barriers, and, without a doubt, no limits either!