Old Wave is pleased to meet you. The Portland group is the former Adam Brock 4—brand new name, same great flavor. Actually, Old Wave’s upcoming debut full-length (out in November) should showcase a heretofore new side of the continually growing band, which stemmed out of Brock’s solo recordings into some full-fledged band action. Here’s the exclusive premiere of their first song under the new moniker: “Riddles” is a steadily escalating track of complex pop beauty, a true calling card for the great things to come from Old Wave.
Brock says, “I started writing and recording ‘Riddles’ in the winter of 2013, but the song didn’t really come together until I met Amanda (whose voice complete’s the conceptual part of the song and adds a new texture that was missing in my music). Amanda had heard a song of mine on the radio and sent me a message wondering if I needed a bandmate. Soon after we met Abbey, whose amazing pipes enter to double the guitar solo and add another layer to the last chorus. Barra Brown’s jazzy ride cymbal and tom fills were the last ingredient to add to the song (and finalized our current line-up as well.) We performed as the Adam Brock 4 for about a year but decided to change our name to Old Wave to reflect the increased role my bandmates play in the music making process.”
Old Wave performs this Sunday night as part of this month’s FREE Ear Candy showcase at Mississippi Studios, hosted of course by the Merc and the ‘Sip. They’re the first of three bands, opening for Lubec and Night Mechanic, two other terrific Portland bands that are celebrating their respective record releases at the show. It is an event not to be missed.
The scorched-black metallurgists of Portland’s Atriarch aim for creeping dread as opposed to pummel-you-senseless volume, and if “Collapse” doesn’t make the pit of your stomach feel like it is doing exactly that, you are made of sterner stuff than I am. “Collapse” comes from their upcoming third album An Unending Pathway, which will be their first for Relapse Records. It’s due out on October 28, and judging by this compelling, dipped-in-black track, it’ll find purchase in some extremely heavy places. Now get your thumb outta your mouth.
It looks like the fellows behind Magic Sword are doing some creative undercover marketing. Perhaps you’ve seen their mysterious sword posters around town. Perhaps you watched their weird YouTube video in which a guy with googly eyes recited a bunch of fantasy nonsense [link needed link found!]. They’ve sent a couple odd things to the Mercury as well: a plastic light-up sword, a roll of undeveloped film. Well, unless you caught one of their “guerrilla” sets during MFNW, here’s your first chance to actually find out what the hell these guys sound like. It’s not metal, as I initially guess—it’s instrumental electronic pop that borrows from the playbook of Justice and Daft Punk, at least in terms of mystique. “Battlefield” is a big, brash, ’80s-closing-credits number with a repeated chord structure and a steadily building arrangement. And Magic Sword plays their big “coming out” gig this Saturday, September 20 at Rotture as part of the afterparty for the Rose City Comic Con. It will get nutty, mark my words.
Lots more Music Monday after the jump, including great new ones from Greylag, Peter Broderick, Wampire, and Night Mechanic!
Greylag have their fine new self-titled album coming out on Dead Oceans on October 14, and here’s another glimpse: “Yours to Share” follows up their “Another” with a slightly heavier sound, a slow-boil cauldron of folk and rock that proves the Portland group have been working on some fine sounds indeed. Greylag play Mississippi Studios on October 10 opening for the Whigs.
Meanwhile, Oregon composer/multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick is adding to his already prolific catalog with a solo EP for Bella Union, which also comes out October 14. (Bella Union will also release a full-length from Broderick in the spring.) (Colours of the Night) Satellite was recorded in Switzerland with a “pick-up” band, a new experience for Broderick, who typically records on his own. He’ll be touring with that band in Europe, but before he does, he’s playing one of the Project Pabst evening shows on Saturday, September 27 at Mississippi Studios as part of Greg Gives Peter Space, his collaboration with Greg Haines. Meanwhile, he’s offering the stems of this track, “Colours of the Night (Satellite Version)” as part of a remix competition—more on that here.
Wampire‘s new album Bazaar comes out on Polyvinyl on October 7, and here’s the second advance track, the witchy, velutinous, rumbling “The Amazing Heart Attack.” Wampire plays this Sunday, September 21 at the Hawthorne Theatre opening for the UK’s Temples, who make equally witchy, velutinous, rumbling music, and after their leg opening for that band, they’ll headline their own tour (with the lovely TOPS from Montreal opening for them; check out their song “Change of Heart,” which is goddamn delightful and makes Cyndi Lauper’s song of the same name sound like a pile of puke). A headlining date for Wampire hasn’t been announced just yet, but will likely occur near tour’s end in November.
‘Member when I told you about the super rad Ear Candy show happening with Lubec, Night Mechanic, and Old Wave at Mississippi Studios on Sunday night for free? Well, on that topic, let’s listen to one from Night Mechanic‘s new one, Day Surgery, their fine new album which they’re releasing at Sunday’s show. “Payload” is a mini-epic, a jumpy but comfy tune that showcases the band’s overflowing melodic impulses and tight interlocking arrangements. As with all of the Portland four-piece’s songs, there’s more going on with this one than initially meets the eye. Again, Night Mechanic plays—for free—on Sunday night at Mississippi Studios. Miss it and be bereft of the delight you richly deserve.