There may have been some sort of overarching “Portland sound” at one point or another—who knows? It’s a pointless debate, and besides, the cross-pollination of genres—not just in Portland but all over the world—has broken those arguments wide open. Paradise Hotel, a compilation of songs by various artists from Portland’s fertile underbelly, proves this ethos handily.
Out on July 26 through local imprint Tender Loving Empire, Paradise Hotel is produced by the newly formed New Move Studios—a music- and video-centric collaborative space/studio helmed by guitarist/vocalist Jesse Bettis of pop quintet New Move, and Night Heron leader Cameron Spies. The 13-track compilation zeroes in on consistent production and displays a communal effort by an array of music scenes—all existing in a city that longs for the kitschiness of its past, even while setting its sights to a presumably glossy future.