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Blackheart Whitenoise Blackheart Whitenoise CD (2006)
Charlie Rodriguez Y Ray Reyes album With intensity and a confident snarl, five musicians converged in Portland, OR and in March 2006 formed BlackHeart WhiteNoise. Less than five months later, they have completed a full length self-produced CD while word spreads about engrossingly dark and energetic live shows. Pooling an eclectic mix of influences, including Nick Cave, Oasis, Primal Scream, The Psychedelic Furs, and Hunter S. Thompson, BlackHeart WhiteNoise create a shimmering blend of haunting, hypnotic melodies, energetic alt.
pop, and intellectual art rock. The music on their first self-titled release surges forward from the unrelenting opening track, "Our Lives in Black and White" and the hip shaking rock anthem "Guest List," to darkly alluring tracks like "December's Child" and "Panomine" to the deeply cathartic "Feel Good and Shine" and back again to optimistic sweet pop melodies on "Picture Perfect World" and "The State We're In". It's a bit of a wild ride thanks to the distinct and otherworldly C. Arden Hinds (vocals). Sounding a little bit and nothing like such alt.
rock icons as Richard Butler, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie, Hinds' vocal rants, intense crescendos, and gritty lamentations are perfectly set against BlackHeart WhiteNoise's unrelenting guitar riffs, propulsive bass lines and huge wall of sound created by Dano Capristo (drums), Michael Pieretti (guitar), Chance Hausler (guitar) and Connar Gilles (bass). The music is in constant movement with the band showcasing their inspirations by drawing from such diverse sources as discordant post-punk to pop-tinged anthemic rock, often in the same song. It is a rewarding listen, as lively and intelligent as it is unique and challenging compared with many of today's cookie cutter releases. Prior to moving to Portland, Hinds performed and wrote with the Philadelphia band Dandelion (Columbia Records). One night in 2005, after relocating to the Northwest, Hinds ...
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