In Greg Harrison's compellingly realistic docu-drama Groove, a fledgling DJ complains to Digweed that good vinyl is scarce in Fresno, CA. But that's apparently not the case for James Mekalian and Mario Langone, who make up Fresno's trance duo Zenith:Nadir. The group produces beautifully mindless and hypnotic beats, samples, and grooves to ignite dancefloors as well as ravers' mental and physical states.
Raised on '80s electro-pop like the Cure, New Order, and Depeche Mode, Mekalian and Langone played in cover bands and eventually, after being introduced by a mutual friend, formed the alternative outfit Polar. But their musical tastes soon evolved to include ambient, house, and hardcore. In 1995, they released their first 12" single on Vinyl Republic, "My Odyessey," which, later that year, was included on John Digweed's Renaissance II. The "Supernaked" 12" came out on Oblivion in 1996, "Synfinity" on Dimentional Transfer in 1999, and "I Love the Feeling" on Crush in 2001.
In April of 2002, Zenith:Nadir released two 12" singles of "Dance to the Beat" and their debut full-length, Wonderful Things, on Dimentional Transfer Recordings. The album found the duo's sound culminating in mind-altering trance, mixing ambient, progressive house, and acid.
