Next week, the Indie section will be looking back over a decade’s worth of music from Oregon, listing out what this writer and a few of his trusted allies deem to have been the best albums released during the past 10 years.
But for this week, we want to look to the future a little bit, to give you a heads up on the artists that you will be talking about in the new year. Some of the groups already have a healthy buzz being made about them, while others are just getting started. Another is the fascinating collaboration between two already-established artists who are combining their disparate approaches to music. These are the people that are going to get a lot of attention outside our borders, representing Oregon to the rest of the world into the next decade and, hopefully, beyond.
Explode Into Colors - Much ink has already been spilled about this groove-tastic trio. They were named 2009’s Best New Band by the readers of Willamette Week and have already made some headway into the mind space of the tastemakers around the U.S. 2010, though, is going to be their year, as it will bring about the release of the group’s first full-length album (on the venerable Kill Rock Stars label). Our appetite has already been well whetted with the release of a trio of 7″ singles and their tightly knit live shows that put the emphasis on the deep dub-empowered rhythms of late ’70s post punk and the high wire tension of the Riot Grrrl movement.
Ethan Rose & Laura Gibson – Sometimes the most interesting and exciting music can come from connecting two elements that didn’t seem like they would fit together. On paper, the collaboration between circuit bending, music box manipulating experimental sound artist Ethan Rose and feather-light folk singer Laura Gibson wouldn’t seem like a creative match. But, in practice, it is one of the most thrillingly original sounds to come out of Oregon in some time. Gibson puts her vocal parts completely in Rose’s care and, in return, he has edited and warped them to fit his twinkling ether frolic soundscapes. It’s music custom-made for dream sequences and surrealist art installations.
Black Elk/Red Fang – Heavy rock is on the upswing in the Indie world and these two colorful groups are going to be the ones carrying the torch for us to the rest of the world. The former is a sludgy, angry quartet led by dynamic vocalist Tom Glose. The group recently got anointed by the gods of heavy noise rock when they were hand-picked by The Jesus Lizard to be the opening act on a number of recent reunion shows. The latter quartet adds a little bit of ’70s boogie to their earth-shaking riffs, but still bring it hard and fast. They are gearing up for the release of a new album in 2010, a disc recorded by Viva Voce’s Kevin Robinson.
Saudade - The band’s name comes from an apparently untranslatable Portuguese concept that they say is close to a sort of longing or homesickness. Their press materials rightly say that it is a close an approximation of the sound this duo creates – one that layers on washes of guitar noise without vocal focus and adds dreamlike bits of electronics and programmed beats. It’s a gentle touch that invokes the idea of loss and longing almost too perfectly at times. Saudade released their debut album at the end of 2009, but its ideas and beauty will be lingering on the minds of many music fans and writers well into the new year.
Justin Power – His were the best songs on the most recent release by the Portland Cello Project, compositions that would lose nothing were the cellos to be removed but that also benefited greatly from his collaborators’ tasteful accompaniment. Now that Justin has gotten his name before the world at large, he can start drawing attention towards the rest of his fine catalog of songs that are rooted in the ache of folk and filled with an invigorating and childlike whimsy. He’s a man without a record label. That will likely change very soon.
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Every time I’ve seen him over the years I’ve wondered when Justin would start collecting accolades. Nice to see it has begun.
Love the fact that you all cover every type of music. I never would have found some of the music/musicians you spotlight without yoiur site. It’s nice to know that groups like the ones mentioned above have an outlet for getting noticed by people at large. Thank you and keep it up…great job!
Love the Cello.
Great write-up, and getting another chance to see that A+ video from Red Fang is always appreciated!
right on, there is no music like indie music. someone has to push the envelope. nice article
Saudade is a great word, and is indeed untranslatable. It carries more of a feel, a loneliness and ache and yearning and missing. I learned it from a Brazilian long ago, and it really needed context. It will be interesting to hear these guys convey that musically. Thanks for the introduction!
Good article, hope my band makes next years list. We are called Crooked Bars. mmmm. Rhymes with free guitars.
Keep it local in 2010! And that Red Fang video makes my day. Any day.
Happy Holidays OMN!
I LOVE Explode Into Colors. What a great band. I am so moved by their music and so happy to see them on this list.
Great article on some very special local acts. Happy Holidays to everyone at OMN!
The Red Fang video is pretty great.
Happy Holidays from down in Eugene. Have a good weekend.
There is always so much good that comes out of Oregon and it never ceases to amaze me. Another righteous indie band to watch for is “Kopath Bear” out of Salem. Their Combination of folk rock guitars with alternative rhythms and thoughtful piano tracks, make for a refreshing breath of listening pleasure in what proves to be a entertaining and easy to listen group. Keep an eye out for them, for sure! They are fun!
Thanks for another fantastic article! Will enjoy my time off this holiday season with some much needed new tunes on the i pod. Happy Holiday!
Wow! I’m totally impressed by my first introduction to these groups. Thanks for the heads up and happy holidays!
Huge fan of learning about new music, absolutely loved the write up! Here are some of my favorite local bands based in Portland in case you are interested…Marv Ellis and the Platform (plays Tuesdays at the White Eagle, hip hop, world fusion), Kegan Smith and the Family (plays Mondays at Club 915, party vibe music), Acoustic Minds (plays Sirens in the Round at Club 915 and with the former two bands listed, vocals and emcees). Please support local music!!!
Nice brief and fluffy overviews. Hope you’ll be doing some follow up articles on some of these artists.
Remember, even the Beatles were indie once.
Wonderful article ~ I am constantly amazed at the talent in PDX. There are so many bands in this town that could make the list. Thanks for introducing me to new music!
Somehow I missed the Laura Gibson/ Ethan Rose collaboration, so thanks for pointing it out. I can see how this could be a powerful blend of two talented (in different ways) musicians. Nice heads up on a couple of unknowns to me.
Great article; captures the essence of each band perfectly and beautifully. Oh and, Justin Powers and the Portland Cello Project = love! Brightens my day to see them in this article. Gotta love Indie music..especially when it’s kept local..:) Happy Holidays everyone!
Love discovering new music – thanks for the Justin write-up. Red Fang: nice work on that video!
Thanks for allowing me to see what talent there is around here. It’s time that I get back in the loop.
Portland is a real hotbed of talent! Some cool stuff, though there are masses of great stuff coming from the unknowns.
I’m looking forward to this next year’s set of articles from omn, you guys are awesome!
Lest we forget Casey Neill and The Norway Rats and Mike Coykendal who are both due for new albums in 2010.
That Justin Power video is great… wish I had seen more of him while still in town! The PCP always does a great job dressing up tunes in a nice way, too. I see you there Anna Fritz!!
Video links add a whole new dimension to music journalism. Love it.
Saudade = Ennui perhaps? I have chronic ennui. I will listen to them now, thanks for the tip.
Saudade’s music is some of the few truly new and creative art being mad today. My cousin and me just found them and I was floored by the interweaving of elements and how they created such a different entity from what is already out on the scene.
Sweet article! Keep up the great work!
Looking forward to new sounds in 2010!
These comments are fake.