Oregon Music News

It seems like just yesterday that we profiled Hosannas, but in those few short weeks the band has fundamentally changed. Brothers Brandon and Richard Laws are continuing on as an altered Hosannas, and the band has a new album coming out in October (they’re also playing PDX Pop Now!). Meanwhile, Cristof Hendrickson and Lane Barrington are moving on to other projects.

For Barrington, that means a return to his nearly decade-old project The Ocean Floor (TOF). What began as a solo recording project in Central Florida blossomed into a nine piece (known as The Ocean Floorchestra) before Barrington’s move to Portland in 2006. Barrington always kept TOF alive, but Hosannas was such a consuming project that he wasn’t able to give it the full attention that he wanted to.

Now, TOF is back and July 13 released the full length Pop Quiz on Electricity and Lust. For this effort Barrington turns the standard artist-listener relationship on its head. Instead of assuming the lyricist has a proclamation, an answer to give the listener, Barrington gives them questions. On Pop Quiz, he asks 75 questions in 11 delicately orchestrated indie-folk songs, with the help of bandmate and violinist Shannon Steele (Typhoon, Ah Holly Fam’ly). TOF is celebrating the release of ‘Pop Quiz’ with a CD release party July 24 at Artistery.

The Ocean Floor – “What’s On?” – from Pop Quiz

A partial list of things Barrington wants folks to know about TOF’s Pop Quiz (which you should remember, because you will be tested later):

1. It will be released by Electricity and Lust (Polka Dot Dot Dot, Firs of Prey, Christopher Francis) of Olympia, WA.
2. The covers and inserts are original art by children’s book author and folk musician Johanna Wright that is totally different from the cd art! Also the vinyl itself is a beautiful translucent green, moldavite-esque color.
3. The first one hundred inserts are of a paper handmade by The Ocean Floor and hand screened as well.
4. The release show is my mother’s birthday, July 24th, and the physical release date was my grandma’s birthday, July 13th, 2010
5. This album features the talents of musicians from bands such as Viernes, Hosannas, Typhoon, Ah Holly Fam’ly, and Firs of Prey.

OMN interviewed Barrington (of which he said, “it seems easier to answer questions than write them”) about his break from Hosannas and the release of Pop Quiz.

What happened with Hosannas? Is the break amicable, and are you collaborating with any of them?

Barrington: Yes, definitely amicable. Brandon’ s letting me take his car to Idaho this weekend! I guess Christof came to me about leaving and it wouldn’t be mine to explain. But I was faced with either starting from the ground up on Richard and Brandon’s music which I love or finally give my own songs and voice the attention my soul wants me to. Playing drums in what I consider an amazing band has been truly wonderful but I get a feeling when The Ocean Floor plays that is like nothing else. The commitment of my ideas to word and tune and, in turn, to the people around me is what i feel best doing! No plans on collabs but that’s because we have spent the last 2 years doing that. Maybe in the future…

Where did you start with them?

Barrington: Here in Portland.

What brought you to Portland?

Barrington: I have an admiration for mountains, cherry trees, and all things you can’t find in Central Florida, where I’m from (Tampa, then Orlando). Some people just need to move somewhere completely opposite and where they’ve never been. I found that and a thriving and inspiring musical environment here.

The Ocean Floor has been around for 7 years, how active did you stay with the project while you were with Hosannas?

Barrington: Actually 9 years now! Well I’ve always played in 2 or 3 other bands at a time. I used to play live drums with Machinedrum in Florida also. But all in all Hosannas is such a consuming project that I still had less time for The Ocean Floor.

What’s different for you about this project?

Barrington: The arrangement process is much faster. Much different group dynamic. Hosannas has an emphasis on sonic textures that is rarely found in The Ocean Floor. TOF has more emphasis on narrative lyrics, conceptualism (i.e. Pop Quiz and Microjams) and string arrangements.

Are you still performing as a duo with Shannon Steele, or have you incorporated other musicians into your live sound?

Barrington: We are looking to add a string bass, jazzy drummer, and clarinetist over the next few months.

Fittingly, all the songs on Pop Quiz are questions. It reminds of something Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields would do. What did you have in mind when you were putting the new record together?

Barrington: Well I’ve always had an issue as a songwriter with everyone looking at you and expecting your thoughts, as if they’re any better than anyone else’s because you’re a lyricist. Truthfully I as a person have more questions than answers. And I thought it could really comfort people to hear an album that doesn’t pretend to know anything more than nothing at all. Note – these songs were composed in 2008-9 and I have been back to the old classic form happily! telling a story is another great way to keep most of the commentary out and let people find their own meanings to thoughts I’ve constructed.

You mentioned that “Microjams” will be incorporated into the record release party. What are they, and how did you get involved with that?

Barrington: These are short performances we do using tiny sounds amplified through natural acoustics in the listeners ear. Basically a person sets down, we put the eargoggles (headphones with cups pointing out to collect sound) on them and then give a stereo performance of extremely quiet musical sounds. We will also do storytelling and stereo soundtrack these stories with micro sound effects. Basically this allows for an audience member getting a personalized headphone-like performance! We usually have the booth set up for microjams between sets.

How’s the summer so far?

Barrington: It’s been great. Got to go to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, the Washougal River, and hitting [Idaho] this month. But work, work, work as usual is my happiest way to spend a season.

The Ocean Floor celebrates their CD release July 24 at Artistery, with Ah Holly Fam’ly and Kele Goodwin. 8pm, $6 at doors.