Es, Fursaxa, Black Forest/Black Sea,
& The Visitations
Live in Portland, ME 12/4/04

Was very glad to receive notice of this show from the Time-Lag Records email list (Thanks Nemo!).  The show took place Saturday night the 4th at a cool store in Portland that I was unaware of called "Strange Maine", a small record/video/weird stuff store that is located on Congress Street in Portland (a good reason to re-visit Portland!).  It was very cozy, with all of us sitting on the floor watching & drifting to the bands.  I brought my little dog to the show ("Quisp"), and he was awesome & was quietly enjoying the show with the rest of the audience.

It was a REALLY COOL assortment of bands.  The first up was ES, a project of Sami Sänpäkkilä from Finland.  He was joined by both members of Black Forest/Black Sea, and by Fursaxa.  Also part of the band, was a visual artist, whose art added heavily to the experience.  She put up a sheet in front of the band, and projected images onto the sheets, along with her physical painting, (for instance, an image of water was up, and she painted boats over the water...Very trippy!!!)

ES started up as a healthy collage of psychedelic sounds, with everyone adding to the stew.  The music was meditatingly quiet, but very involving & experimental.  I liked the set a LOT, as did the audience.  Everyone including the visual artist added to the experience.  A very trance inducing start to the night!!!

Black Forest/Black Sea were up next for an enjoyable if short set.  A quiet, highly experimental set that was warmly enjoyed by all.  They are a duo that mixes bass with guitar & many assorted weird noisemakers...I really liked their set a lot...

Next was one of my favorite artists, Fursaxa.  Another amazingly layered set!  The first piece was very psychedelic with loops of flutes & noisemakers laid on top of other loops...This piece definitely sent me!!!  Her second piece was all vocal, as she laid down layers of voice over voice.  Fursaxa really understands how to create a psychedelic trance!!!  A great show!

Finally, Portlands own "Visitations".  A folk, trance band that was very enjoyable.  The vocal mix was beautiful, and the music was very trancy.  I look forward to seeing more of their sets in the future!!!

Overall, a fun night in Portland (and a lot of walking too...I thought the show was at 7, but it was 9, so my dog & I walked all over the place).  Thanks to Time-Lag, all the artists & Strange Maine for putting this show on!!!

Originally Published 12/5/04