“A guitar marvel and a passionate songwriter”
-Real Detriot Weekly
“Farina is an existential detective, dusting the surfaces of his life for traces of some deeper meaning, sifting through the ordinary to find some underlying connection.”
-Boston Phoenix
“Mellifluous jazz guitar, irresistible melodies, and heart-tuggingly understated vocals”
-Time Out! London
“Geoff Farina proves himself to be one of the more interesting young American rock guitarists.”
-Guitar One
“…sharp lyrics, a restrained but never faltering voice, and guitar chops that will leave most listeners scratching their heads”
-CMJ New Music Weekly
“Geoff Farina plays languid jazz chords over a rhythm section that stretches his stream-of-consciousness torch songs into thrilling improvisations. When the guitar-tone and drum-kit duel of Cancel’s coda subsides into the slow build of Sing, you know you’re in the presence of greatness.”
-Sunday Times London
“…there’s a fragile quality to Farina’s music that does get under your skin and his gentle, minimalist/unplugged brand of strum-pop additionally conveys a wistful, late-60’s West Coast feel guaranteed to bring a smile to even a curmudgeonly purist’s mug.”
-Magnet
“Farina’s personally focused lyrical musings, each heaped in their own existential purpose, reveal intricate details of a life of alert observation. It’s almost as if Farina is in a perpetual state of reflection, reliving past events vicariously through a song.”
-Pulse
“Farina’s short narratives touch on simple emotions in relation to simple situations, with an unerring, assured delivery and winsome turn of phrase.”
-Comes With a Smile
“I’ve started to associate Geoff as this workingman’s Les Paul-like figure because of his absolute command of his guitar, amp, pedals, and the sounds that fill a venue.”
-Instant
“There’s always something warming about any record involving singer-guitarist Geoff Farina, with his blend of lo-fi indie and Steely Dan-influenced jazz-pop.”
-The Independent
“Geoff Farina makes gentle, guitar-and-voice based songs that are not unlike the ones he makes as one third of the Massachusetts-based trio Karate. Reverse Eclipse isn’t fantastically exciting but it is rather beautiful. All Wes Montgomery flavoured jazzy guitar, luminously lovely vocals and crafty phrasing”
-Mojo
“Reverse Eclipse probably isn’t the most exciting record you’ve heard recently, but it just might be the most beautiful. If you’re at all familiar with Farina, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise–he’s been writing beautiful music for years. The only question is what will he perfect next? ”
-Insound
“Karate are cool and clicking with fiddly rhythms, but are down-to-earth passionate, and their every song always reveals new secrets.”
-New Music Express
“Karate’s unique devotion to the many possibilities of rock ‘n roll will always have a place in the hearts of both the warriors and the meek alike.”
-Rockpile
“Karate emerges from the cocoon as whiskey-breathed Steely Dan! Slow and smooth like Southern Comfort, this album can be dangerously addictive….”
-Giant Robot
“..don’t let your preconceptions about jazz guitar lead you astray. Karate is what jazz fusion ought to be: intelligent, capable, and interesting.”
-Colorado Daily
“…an ear-catching outburst of good tunes and offbeat explorations.”
-Chicago Tribune
“The guys in Karate have always pushed the boundaries of indie rock, but this time they’ve raised the bar entirely. Their musicianship is astounding”
-Strength
“…continues to amaze more and more with each album they record. Karate has forged a sound and soulful vibe that’s all their own.”
-Heckler
