Band to Watch: Blouse
Portland trio, Blouse released their dark electro-pop ridden, self-titled debut late in 2011. While this release did not spread much further than the borders of the Pacific Northwest, I would expect them to acquire many new converts as they prepare themselves for a larger stage this year. The first audition will take place as Blouse heads down to Austin for SXSW. This will provide them with the proper platform to introduce many new listeners to their glowing gloom. I would not be shocked to see Blouse use SXSW to catapult themselves into many of your playlists much like Yuck was able to accomplish last year. I notice an undeniable attractive quality as I listen to each track on their release. Blouse will see success this year because of their intangible talent and commitment to their authenticity. I am confident in any band’s success when I notice these two important qualities from the beginning.
It should be noted that Unknown Mortal Orchestra bassist, Jacob Portrait moonlights in this project. As he travels from one start-up to the next, his “never sleep” attitude is appreciated by buzz band connoisseurs like myself. The combination of Portrait’s technical excellence combined with the dark tones of Charlie Hilton’s voice makes a formidable pairing. Track, “Videotapes” does the best job of displaying Blouse’s potential. Rich synths, deep bass, and a voice that sounds like it is coming from a shadow make “Videotapes” special and give Blouse a great deliverable for conversion. While it is not as friendly of an introduction as UMO’s “Ffunny Frends” it invites in listeners in a different way. Its melody absorbs my memory and makes me want more. A good first impression proves its value.
Blouse most likely will remain silent for a bit as they tour Europe, but expect the buzz to pick up as they land back in Portland for a show at the end of February. Consider this show along with their Eurotrip to be used as preparation for their biggest test, the monster that is SXSW. This will not be the only time you hear about Blouse this year, but if it is your first, make sure you do not let this one fall through the cracks. If you do, then I am sure Blouse will find a way to jog your memory as they begin their 2012 campaign.
Connect with Blouse via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Brett McGrath
Band to Watch: Adventure Galley
Adventure Galley is a six piece synth-pop band out of Portland, Oregon. Their sound is very much in the mold of Future Islands and The Killers with a dash of Cold Cave and P.C. (Pre-Congratulations) MGMT in which heavy synths build up danceable pop music. What sticks out most about the band is an almost monotone vocal in each of their songs that somehow strangely still resonates as emotional. Adventure Galley’s first hit track was the infectous pop jam “Addict” which was originally released in 2010 on the band’s first EP entitled The Right Place To Be. A remastered version of the track will be included on an upcoming album scheduled to drop this year along with two new tracks, “Marooned” and “Weekend Lovers”, which were released for preview earlier this month.
Of the two, “Marooned” sticks out the most and speaks to the potential of the band. While “Weekend Lovers” falls more in line with “Addict” in an upbeat, windows down pop music vane, “Marooned” brings a darker, more intriguing vibe to it. Like 95% of pop music, it deals with a relationship that’s gone wrong and reminds me of a recent someone who fleetingly passed through my own life. There is no feeling of wanting to reconcile, only a strong sense of betrayal and anger over something that’s beyond repair for unexplainable reasons. As human beings, we tend to understand absolutes but live our own lives in the ambiguity of our emotions, clinging to past ideas and experiences of what we think we have and deserve. Letting go is just too hard. But when the end arrives and neither believes the face in the mirror to be at fault, someone ultimately has to supply closure, with the most pained usually being the person to do so.
Marooned on an island
In love with a bullet and a gun
She claims that the temperature has nothing to do with it
It’s not her fault
The bullet is mine
Please allow me
Careful what you wish for
Both tracks show a lot of promise and certainly make Adventure Galley a band to keep your eye on in 2012. While no album release date has been scheduled, as of yet, you’ll have to live with the preview of these two new songs, which we have below. Enjoy discovering and please, don’t forget to share.
Connect with Adventure Galley via Facebook | MySpace
“Marooned”
“Weekend Lovers”
Written by Greg Dahman
Band to Watch: Ryan Stively
When Port O’Brien dropped the anchor on their 6-year career many loyalists, like myself, felt like the air had been slowly released from of our rafts. I floated along with this band through three separate releases and then suddenly the excursion was cut short. Feeling like a child that just jumped into the deep end for the first time, I did everything in my power to keep my fingers gripped to the wall that Port O’Brien had built for me. Revisiting albums The Wind and the Swell, All We Could Do Was Sing and Threadbare offered me a chance to keep my head above water while I treaded, reaching for more. While one ship had docked, my SOS was answered and two separate rescue buoys kept me afloat.
I was satisfied after embracing, founding member Van Pierszalowski’s release Out in the Light. He goes by moniker WATERS and the themes that Port O’Brien drew out remained intact. After consuming and covering the release I felt pleased that an extension of Port O’Brien was still available to me. While this proved to be the ultimate void filler, I discovered an additional spot on the extension of Port O’Brien’s dock with Ryan Stively’s release Soft Kingdom.
Stively now captains his own ship. He uses Soft Kingdom to expand upon the folk side of his Port O’Brien past. Stively ropes in the outstanding member of Port O’Brien, Cambria Goodwin, to the release that was recorded over a 6- month span. Song, “We Forget Everything” is a quiet, acoustic ode to erasing regret. Line, “Winters in the west, give blood to the over dressed” help display the rich song writing of Stively. As I listen to songs “Golden October” and “Psalms from the Kitchen” I can’t help, but hear the influential snippets of acoustic folk legend Jeff Tweedy. Strong song writing, folky goodness, and a quick reminder that Port O’Brien might have deceased, but their spirit is very much alive and well.
Friends in Indianapolis have a chance to hang onto the ghost of Port O’Brien when WATERS comes to town on March 23. Get your tickets HERE. I want to thank Pierszalowski, Stively, and Cambria for refusing to hang us out to dry. Drenched, floating, and headphones above water.
Connect with Ryan Stively via Facebook | Bandcamp
Written by Brett McGrath
Thought on Tracks 