Surfing The Channel

Portland’s position in the music culture of the world has been solidly placed ever since “Louie, Louie,” came out of here. It was a perfect anthem for a perfect time, and Portland was the place to be declaring it. It was loud, bold, and absurd, and anyone listening close for hidden meanings would be missing the point entirely. It was just about fun.

As music in the NorthWest progressed through the years, it became more complex, and more deeply felt, up until the rain-soaked kids began playing an enormously emotional sound that signaled a sharp and direct ennui. The fun of earlier times had fallen out of favor to be overtaken by a dark posture that was angry and mysterious. So when a band like Helio Sequence comes around, it’s a refreshing thing.

Composed of two very skilled musicians, Brandon Summers and Benjamin Weikel , the sound is not light at all, and there’s nothing in it that suggests it’s pure fun. But it’s not dark and dismal either, and the anger here is a mature one, that comes from contemplation as well as the rough experience of life.

This is the kind of culture that brings people to the Portland boutique hotels , where they can enjoy all that the city has to offer. It’s deep and complex, and there’s something that resembles real thought behind the tunes. It’s an experiment that’s lasted for ten years now, and one that will continue to sound good in the future. The duo has been able to negotiate their talents to make a wall of sound with their technological brilliance.

The songs are also upbeat, even when the content and tempo are low and in the land of the lost, there is a kind of hum behind the sound that is nothing less than uplifting. And at certain moments, it almost feels like the audience is being part of the creation of another local anthem.

No related posts.