Portico "First Neighbours" (Copperspinerecords 2009)

Canadian power trio – not Rush

Portico are a threepiece band ( 2 gals and 1 guy) with a fantastic sound ! This is a sound hewn from an indie sensibility and the touchstones are there in terms of the Velvets, The Cure et al but there is something different here. The vocals of Lyn and Mimi carve out an untrodden path with the hints of Evanescence and Patti Smith be it over spiky guitars or shrill strings.

The songs are built from chiming spindly guitar patterns with boot heavy bass parts and a drum sound that is more than just a backing. There are hints of the Violent Femmes and the Smiths.

Points of reference are easy and also difficult as there do appear to be influences flying around from everywhere and yet this is such a sharply defined sound that is utterly individual.

Gigs must be a blast as ‘Unreunion’ , ‘The Battle of Duck Lake’ and ‘A Year between the Wars’ have the mosh pit going crazy whilst the intellectual observers tick every box and necessity required for satisfaction before surrendering to the insistent rhythm.

Many cds cross this reviewers PC, few are as immediate or life affirming.
This is their time. Go buy!

Date review added:  Sunday, February 08, 2009
Reviewer:  keith lovejoy
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  artists site