Oregon Music News

Photo by Sarah Meadows

The trio of Alberta Poon, Mike McKinnon, and Daniel Grazzini have been making music for a decade.  The first seven years were devoted to the evolution of the post-punk, indie rock band Wet Confetti.  In 2007, the name changed.  Now three years later, the latest transcendental incarnation, Reporter, is finally set to release their second LP, after 2008’s Dust & Stars, under their current moniker.

If you’ve been around Portland’s house parties, warehouses or Holocene during the last years, then much of the suave, synth-ed out, space electro will be familiar.  Only the DIY-rockers have finally laid it down permanently in their own studio and labeled it Time Incredible (out on August 10th on CD and double-vinyl via Holocene Music).

Influenced by Italo disco and French house, check out the single “Click Shaw” for your first out-of-body experience floating through their dance-y fog.

Tracklist:
1. Geronimos Bones
2. Total Fascination
3. Click Shaw
4. One Night
5. The Moon
6. Lab Test
7. Silent Running
8. Time Incredible
9. Love Sounds

Stumbling through their trippy, sci-fi mess, OMN caught up with Reporter’s Alberta Poon via email as they prep to play the last day of this year’s PDX Pop Now! festival on Sunday, August 1st at 9:40 PM at Rotture before celebrating with an album release party on Friday, August 13th at Holocene.

How are you?

Hectic.

This is the second album under the name Reporter.  How would you describe how your sound has changed in this time?

We’ve definitely figured out how to hone our spazz into groove.

During this time, you been playing loads of shows around Portland and the Northwest. How long have you been playing and honing the songs that were ultimately selected for Time Incredible?

About a year now.

And how long has the album been in the works?

We record everything ourselves so we’re constantly writing and recording. Time Incredible has been in the works for about a year now.

Were there many songs that you’d been playing that didn’t make the cut?

Only about one or two.

I’m sure that releasing Time Incredible on double-vinyl was very important to you guys. But did that decision limit the number of songs selected?

The double vinyl was for fidelity sake and not because we have two albums worth full of songs. There are 9 songs on the album.

Where does the name Time Incredible come from?

Our rad minds.

Describe the record in one sentence.

Love and heartbreak in sexy outer space.

This was self-recorded and produced, right? Where did this all happen?

Our houses. We have a really rad studio now for the next record that would make vintage gear dorks cry.

Did you have any help? Are there any guest contributors on the album?

Jesus.

The album is out on August 10th followed by a release party at Holocene on August 13th. We know you’ve got some special surprises up your sleeve for this one. Anything you’d like to share?

We’ll probably have a public fight airing all our dirty laundry for everyone in Portland to witness.

How’d you get hooked up with Holocene Music to release the album?

Our friend Matt in Linger + Quiet heard the 5 song demo and loved it so much he showed it to Scott from Holocene. From there everything fell into place.

What are you doing to promote the album?

Causing scandals.

You also play on Sunday night at PDX Pop Now! What are you looking forward to with this gig?

PDX Pop Now! is one of the best music events in this town. We look forward to being a part of it again.

Will you be attending the first two days of the festival as well? Who are you excited to see live?

I’m really REALLY excited to see my favorite Portland band Hockey play. Shit ya!

Favorite place to play?

Holocene, Rotture and DIY houses and warehouses.

Best gig of recent?

All of them. Seriously shit has been magic!

Any more summertime parties planned?

Ya, we got a few secret ones in store.

Will we be able to purchase copies of the album at Potato Champion?

Sure why not, it’s like the Kevin Bacon of food carts.

Catch Reporter on Sunday, August 1st at 9:40 PM at the 2010 PDX Pop Now! festival at Rotture and check their MySpace for special announcements from outer space about secret shooting star house parties.