Portal/Yellow6 - split 7"
(Make Mine)
Not only have Portal and Yellow 6 split the sides of two 7"s in the past, they have also tried their hand at remixing each other's music, and helped each other out with live shows. So, it's no surprise that while splitting this CD between a couple of new tracks from their respective projects, they would fill the leftover space on the CD with collaborative studio improvisations.
Portal's two contributions are moody and starkly ambient. The first track, "Hold," offers the only vocals on the CD. Think a subdued Liz Frazier. The second track is equally cloudy, while hinting at a straight forward instrumental pop song.
Yellow 6's contribution is, as always, great. Using the usual acoustic guitar, (very) ambient electric guitar, synthesizer and drum machine, Jon's songs evoke hazy imagery and cold landscapes.
But, it's the improvisations that make this record notable. Being improvisations, the songs are more abstracted than the usual fare for either Portal or Yellow 6. But, they keep the track times down to about 5 minutes, with one 8 1/2 minute exception. Heavily treated, and blissfully droned, these four tracks make this relatively quiet year for Yellow 6 a strong one nonetheless.
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