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The Spell Versus Is Under: Anusara Yoga

In the ’90s, most indie rockers were white males who cultivated a cool, detached image. New York-based Versus stood out from its contemporaries for many reasons. Its lineup included two (and sometimes three) Filipino-American brothers, it had a female bassist/singer, and the band gleefully professed its love for sports, meat and classic rock. After several albums and lineup changes continuing through 2001, the group went on a recording hiatus, only occasionally performing live. However, a reinvigorated Versus returned two years ago, and the band has just released On The Ones And Threes (Merge), its first full-length in a decade. Now consisting of singer/guitarist Richard Baluyut, drummer Edward Baluyut, bassist/singer Fontaine Toups, plus live violinist/keyboardist Margaret White, Versus picks up where it left off sonically: hypnotic melodies, male/female vocals and the occasional heavy guitar squall. The band members will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with them.

Richard: I may not look like a proper yogi, but yoga accepts misanthropes like me with open arms. I’ve practiced yoga for 13 years now, and Anusara finds the perfect balance between focused intensity and healing alignment. It helps with my balky back, keeps me from going insane, and the girl/guy ratio is still excellent.

Video after the jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ULnJf9P2s