BUILD is a Brooklyn-based instrumental band consisting of Matt McBane, violin/compositions; Andrea Lee, cello; Michael Cassedy, piano; Ben Campbell, bass; and Adam D. Gold, drums. Both in its make-up and music, Build is fundamentally a hybrid group. Since forming in December 2006, it has developed a body of work and a performance style that draw on (to name few) minimalist chamber music, instrumental rock, modal jazz, American fiddle music, experimentalism, and film music, reflecting McBane’s interests as a composer and the backgrounds of the band members. Time Out New York described Build as a “quintet that straddles the increasingly permeable line between chamber music and instrumental rock.”

Build released Place, its second album, in 2011 on New Amsterdam Records. Place consists of 9 new tracks that build upon the language of the self-titled first Build album. It is an expansive hour-long album whose tracks work both individually and collectively to create a cohesive dramatic arc across the entire album. Place uses a more sophisticated production that heightens the sound of the live band, brings out the core feeling of the individual tracks and creates at times a more tactile, more orchestral or more aggressive sound through the layering of tracks, processing of sounds, placement of mics, etc. The increased studio time that allowed production approach was funded in part by fans through a Kickstarter fundraising campaign.

Their self-titled debut album was released on New Amsterdam Records in 2008. It has received critical acclaim from both esteemed classical music critics and indie bloggers alike including Bloomberg News’ Alan Rich who praised its “skittery, unpredictable and utterly charming musical inventions,” Seattle Sound Magazine which stated “the surreal wonderland Build leads you through is endlessly fascinating and often gorgeous,” and Sequenza21 which praised the performances on the disc: “If you listen, you hear that the rhythmic profile of the piece is treacherous. The performers make it sound easy, effortless, and improvisational.” Recorded with a DIY ethic and miniscule budget, tracks from Build nonetheless went on to be played extensively on several of NPR’s major programs including All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Weekend Edition.