ARTIST: Portastatic
TITLE: Be Still Please
LABEL: Merge Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 204kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 39m total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-10-10
RIP DATE: 2006-09-28
Track List
----------
1. Sour Shores 4:37
2. Black Buttons 5:24
3. I'm In Love (With Arthur Dove) 3:36
4. Sweetness And Light 4:40
5. Getting Saved 5:39
6. You Blanks 4:13
7. Like A Pearl 4:34
8. Cheers And Applause 4:21
9. Song For A Glock 2:42
Release Notes:
http://www.portastatic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/portastatic
http://www.mergerecords.com/
Portastatic is the solo project of Mac McCaughan, who is also known for his work
in Superchunk and as co-owner of Merge Records. Started in the early 90s as a
lo-fi side project and musical foil to Superchunk, over the years, Portastatic
has evolved into a credible artistic entity of its own. A showcase for
McCaughans expansive songwriting skills and interests, the last few Portastatic
recordings have included an instrumental film score (Looking For Leonard, 2001),
a collection of Brazilian tropicalia covers (De Mel, De Melπo, 2000), and a
collaboration with two of the Chicago jazz-scenes most respected members, Ken
Vandermark and Tim Mulvena (A Perfect Little Door, 2001). Hows that for
diversity and range?
Portastatic's second release of 2006 (the film score Who Loves the Sun came out
in June) and ninth full-length sounds as fresh as ever. Analytically angry,
melding darker imagery with indignation, Mac McCaughan also musters the
wherewithal to remain hopeful. Be Still Please continues the full-on rock band
sound of 2005's Bright Ideas but with more of an emphasis on the orchestration
featured in McCaughan's recent soundtrack work. Be Still Please features
integral guest appearances from such luminaries as Laura Cantrell, Annie Hayden
and Peter Holsapple, in addition to Portastatic mainstays Matthew McCaughan,
Margaret White, Lee Waters, Matt Brandau, Carrie Shull and Laura Thomas.