Chrome

A unique mix of sounds ranging from post punk, to post rock, improve percussion, to no wave by this Portland duo. Some tracks have the post rock drums, odd clean angular guitar and electronics while others are static noise. There seems to be a lot going on, but the group’s setup seems simple. One guy is the percussionist, playing drums, trash can, pots, pans and toys. The other guy is the guitarist but also plays pedals, radio, and megaphone. The way he uses the megaphone make his vocals sound female. Not exactly rock but not really noise or electronic either. All of it is interesting.

1. Starts with a strange electronic sound and they slowly create a playful post rock groove. No real vocals and a nice no wave guitar sounds, when it shows up.
**2. Funkier and much more no wave influenced. Quiet vocals which sound female but it’s the guy through a megaphone.
**3. Much more aggressive, sloppy, and punk. This turns into repetitive noise.
4. Quiet with some electronic sounds.
**5. Angular with more of the megaphone vocals. Percussion but not on a drum kit. Fun.
6. Clanking percussion.
7. Nice organic quite drones that slowly turn into a mellow guitar/drum track.
**8. Tense beginning with building percussion that slowly turns into a Kraut rock groove that would make Faust happy. The track mellows out and has an ambient electronic sound. This really does remind me of Faust or This Heat.
9. Ambient
10. Fun stomp with repetitive choppy guitar.
11. Back to the slightly funky sound with a slight reggae/dub feel.
**12. Woa….odd rhythms, more megaphone vocals, clean no wave guitar with a blues solo thrown in. Wow.
13. The percussion is simpler, the guitar rocks and the track is short.
14. Sounds like improvised percussion with things found in the kitchen.
**15. Wonderful repetitive industrial loop that changes into sparse percussion and then into a full on improve jam.
16. Almost sounds like a bass but I don’t think there is any bass on the album. A nice guitar slowly shows up in the track. It’s slightly psychedelic and catchy.

Great stuff!! -mph