Tomten
Tomten is a trio from Seattle, Washington. Often described as Baroque or Dream Pop for their prominent use of organ/electric piano/ and analog synthesizers, they share a wide influence from early power-pop to electric folk. The band formed in 2008 when Singer/Keyboardist Brian Noyeswatkins met Bassist Lena Simon at art school. The two began recording demos in the practice rooms, and started performing regularly in 2010 after drummer Jake Brady joined. The previous record Wednesday's Children was released in June of 2012. Recorded on an old 16-track Tascam in a small Seward Park studio over the course of July the year prior, Wednesday's Children is a keen plate-reverbed excursion over a soundbed of leslie organs, rhodes, chiming guitars, and 3-part harmonies. Following the release of Wednesday's Children, Tomten began work on what would be their newest release, The Farewell Party, recording with engineer/producer Jason Quever (Papercuts) during the summer of 2013 in Sacramento, and San Francisco. The singles off The Farewell Party display a stronger focus on songwriting as well as production, from the somber mellotron of "Pipe Dream Boy" to the shimmering 12 string, and bouncing hammond sound of "Mother Minnow." Other notable moments from the LP include "Thomasina", a vivacious toe-tapper that employs the splendor of brass to delectable effect, and the lonesome piano ballad "Nothin' Like Bein' No One", with its mournful strings sounding out as if from limbo.
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The Lower 48
Inspired by 60s Rock and Pop, this Portland trio features harmonies and lyricism of an era fondly remembered. With a killer male-female vocal combination (Ben Braden and Sarah Parson) and Nick Sadler behind the kit, the band aims for expanding their sound with new instrumental elements. After a few minor tweaks to the line-up and nearly a complete overhaul of their sound, these young twenty-something and pop rock'n'roll all the way. Their latest single "Setting Sun" was just released last month and I highly recommend you check it out via their Bandcamp. Don't be surprised if you hit repeat a couple times-the Beatlesque track is just a taste of what's to come later this year when the band plans to release a new album. —Eleven PDX Magazine