The Great Northwest
The Widespread Reign Of The Great Northwest
Kora; 2008
For time immemorial, music has been employed to set the mood, any mood, for whatever any given situation might require. Old-school Christian churches love their choral music, Al Green and Marvin Gaye are perfect for baby-making, and it’s hard to have a hoedown without pulling out some bluegrass. But what about those grey, rainy days when you just want sit about the house and relax with a good book? That would entail a certain sound, one that would perpetuate the quietness of the day, but not lull you into a deep repose. It would have to be something that encourages the peaceful mood, but remains engaging enough to listen to on its own merits.
Hailing from a corner of the globe that has cornered the market on those grey, rainy days, Portland, OR band The Great Northwest has released a breathtaking debut album that’s destined to serve as a soundtrack to a dreamy, wistful weekend. The Widespread Reign Of The Great Northwest calls to mind a mix of blissful slowcore and showgaze topped off with the necessary pop sensibilities required to keep the listener nodding their head in approval and not nodding off to sleep. This wide-ranging collective of musicians has put together a record replete with enough shimmies, swirls, and shimmers to keep The Dandy Warhols disciples entertained, but it also possesses enough deep, droning, ambient spaces to attract fans of Low. With great tracks that include “Chief John,” “Western American,” “Know What I Mean,” and “Ready Or Not,” The Widespread Reign Of The Great Northwest is perfect for the music fan in need of a palette-cleansing and mind-clearing afternoon with their child, lover, journal, or favorite work of literature. Mood-inducing indeed…