Metro Area was one of the first groups to usher in the return to the disco sound that still remains popular today. The duo of Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani released a string of 12" EPs starting in 1999 that looked to the future while giving a strong nod to the past. Their sound was a mixture of live and electronic instruments that combined elements of soulful, instrumental disco with atmospheric chords and subtle techno flourishes. The first EPs, which were simply titled Metro Area 1, 2, 3 and 4, sold out at light speed and quickly became hard to find gems. Straight A's collects the A sides of their first 4 EPs and presents the newly remastered tracks over 2 LPs. Probably the most notable track featured here is "Miura," which pretty much set the template for all of the imitators that were to come. Don't skip out on the other three cuts, though. They all hit the mark when it comes to that classic Metro Area sound. With Straight A's, Metro Area provide an easy introduction to their back catalog for all you youngins while doing a favor for those of us that missed the boat the first time around. Recommended.

• music label: Environ 2013

reviewed by Señor Sueño Latino 06/2013