Ambient pop act Universe is back with the follow up to 2014’s airy release The Center of Information and we’ve got a first listen. Though The Center of Information made use of an 8-piece band to truly execute its rich soundscapes, Infinite Wonder Songs is out today and sees Hunter Skowron, the man behind Universe, bringing it back to its original incarnation – as a solo project.

Infinite Wonder Songs‘ eight tracks use analog synths, classical guitars and precise drum programming to produce textured instrumental heights thematically inspired by the topics of mental health, artificial intelligence, coming of age and futurism. 

A sublime aura is experienced when listening to Infinite Wonder Songs, making it a solid collection of tracks for soothing introspection. Listen to the album in its entirety below.

There’s no better time of year to participate in a Siouxsie & the Banshees tribute album than now. Local electrogaze trio Vibrissae were fortunate enough to do so. Sao Paulo, Brazil based blog and label The Blog That Celebrates Itself released Desert Kisses: A Tribute to Siouxsie & the Banshees a little over a week ago and its celebration of one of the most influential post-punk bands in the game is ideal for the Halloween season. Vibrissae’s featured cover of "Red Over White" aces the balance between their individual, celebrated sound and that which makes Siouxsie & the Banshees still worshipped to this day.

Vibrissae has a show coming up tomorrow supporting the first Portland appearance for Cincinatti art rockers Lung, along with the beautifully blended indie-electropop-punky alt blues of dynamic duo When We Met and the psych tinged post-punk of the New Not Normals at the High Water Mark.

Hopefull they’ll play their version of "Red Over White" tomorrow but just in case, here it is:

*photo by Marlee Banta 

It’s nearly impossible for these Deli eyes to stay open this morning without the help of this new track by the lo-fi funny boys of Dim Wit. They just dropped their first official single on Friday and for anyone that’s had the chance to see Dim Wit live, you’ll know how perfectly appropriate of a debut track it is for the duo’s (sometimes trio) schtick.

Just picture them, clad in colorful wigs, rockin’ about as those slinky string lines and screams come in as "Wow Ow Now" runs its course. Channeling Dim Wit’s energy both on "Wow Ow Now" and from experiencing their live sets is the only way to start the week out.

Listen to "Wow Ow Now" below and be sure to catch them next week at Smart Collective.

 It’s been quite nice moderately transitioning from devil’s dick level heat to the gloomy frigid weather Portland is typically known for. While there’s many a sad album signifying our respective feelings on this transition, none really does more justice than Arbor Daze‘s ambient despondence.

Our eyes have been on Aspen Koch’s solo project since she tied on one of our Artist of the Month polls a little while back. She’s been quite busy since then putting the finishing touches on last month’s release, Four Months. Her work as Arbor Daze is fairly minimalistic in instruments wielded yet maximal in its impact on the listener – using just a guitar, a loop pedal and her voice to sonically capture the brood – though she collaborated  with others on Four Months.

Thankfully we’re not the only ones to take notice of Koch’s efforts (and Sarah Lane’s of the Late Great, for that matter!), as there’s a show tomorrow displaying a bit of appreciation. 

It’s just about the time for the Jade Lounge’s October #WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday, just in case you somehow didn’t know) Showcase and Arbor Daze, along with Sarah Lane, Jen Deale of Santiam and soulful jazz guitarist Angelica Pray will be performing. Come experience the haze of Arbor Daze in person tomorrow as you fall for the other lovely ladies as well!

Though we’re still reeling from the heaviness of Sleep‘s performance last night, we’re in need of something just as weighty but at a faster pace. What more perfect a fit than a litte bit of Scourge of Ians, whose consistently perfect balance of classic, raw punk with rhythm oriented post punk offers a nice and needed break from our local saturated music scene. 

They’ll be joining Disassturbator (for the final show of their tour!) and Moogwynd on stage tonight at the Kenton Club, so if you’re still in the mood later make sure you stop by. It’s free!

 Here we find ourselves, yet again, on a Saturday night. Some of us may be out partying on the town while others might be cozily nestled in their beds. For those of us that prefer a personal party at home or may be looking for some tunes to get them in the mood to party as they’re getting ready, we’ve got a fairly fresh track coming to you from local experimental artist Schaus.

"Galileo’s Song" dropped earlier this month and is an artsy, avant-pop track that properly utilizes addiciting synth lines to create a soundscape you can’t help but be immersed in. 

Listen to the track below and let it be the energetic addition to your party playlist or the necessary auditory element to your Saturday night chill sesh.

If you find yourself caught in some sort of music rut, consider expanding your radar to include the talents of DAN DAN. Our latest Artist of the Month winners are coming up on their one year annviersary of show-playing, making their debut you last Halloween at Slims.

Since then, the local trio have been dishing out heavily synthy, electro-laced instrumental rock that catalyzes deeper thoughts and fevered movements. We’re desperately craving more than just the four tracks on their Soundcloud page but until then we can stay satiated on their live performances.

DAN DAN’s next unmissable set is actually tomorrow at Valentines, along with Fake Fireplace and Daughter Talk. It’s only $5, so be sure to stop by and congratulate them on their poll win and anniversary of band-dom!

Good pop punk seems to be hard to find nowadays. Our remembrances of the genre call us back to a late 90’s, early 2000’s period where a particular innocence was captured in the chaos of bouncing about. 

Thankfully, local trio the Toads exist to make sure pop punk isn’t dead. Their new EP Always Be Nice, due out tomorrow, showcases that.

From its opening title track to the garage tinged and vengeful "I Don’t Get Hungover (I Get Even)" rounding it out, it’s solid enough to make us crave more.

Join the Toads tomorrow at the Firkin Tavern for the Always Be Nice EP release show, along with CASTLES and Kings & Vagabonds and then again on the 29th for a pre-Halloween party with the Hugs and Stunning Rayguns at the Kenton Club. There are the last two shows with drummer Mitch Gonzales, so come see him off properly!

 As yet another Monday rears its head back and breathes fire onto the end of weekend’s laziness, let’s attempt to make the best of it with a new track from Small Leaks Sink Ships. The quartet just signed to Lefse Records earlier this month, coinciding with the release of "Window."

"Window" shows Small Leaks Sink Ships doing what they do best – mashing math rock with Sunny Day Real Estate-esque emo that’s both nostalgically pleasing and refreshingly new. They’ve faced a lot of crap in their day (which you can read about HERE) and have still forged on, making them true #goals of inspiration for making it through anything hellish.

Give "Window" a listen below.

Portland was an entirely different place back in 2008. The music community was still an actual community not divided, nor were the skylines divided by the rooftops of newly built condos and startups. On top of all this, Explode Into Colors basically exploded into the scene, offering a sound unlike the typical "I’m sad and everyone knows it" vibe Portland was used to.

Though they never actually made it to releasing a full album, their legacy of haunted noise punk lives on as does their advocacy for all-ages spaces. Drummer Claudia Meza, who like many of us and especially ones that didn’t necessarily grow up in Portland, grew up absorbing the influence of live performances. All-ages venues were once an important facet for developing creative youth and are, for the sake of Explode Into Colors dual reunion sets today, something still deserving of the music community’s attention.

"It’s crazy to me that Portland, which boasts such a vibrant music scene, doesn’t have a proper all ages space where up and coming bands are able to grow and play," says Meza. "Every city needs an all ages space, it creates community, totally makes better musicians, and it fosters a more inclusive and varied music scene. Every adult in every local music community should feel a personal responsibility to help make all ages spaces a reality."

That’s why Explode Into Colors will be playing two sets tonight at Mississippi Studios. The first one is open to everyone with Hugo Berlin and Wampire also on the bill, starting at 6pm. It’s a benefit for Friends of Noise, an organization dedicated to providing a safe all-ages space and all-ages shows in Portland’s various neighborhoods. 

Explode Into Colors’ 9pm set with Lithics and the Ghost Ease is 21+ and sold out, with proceeds going to keeping LA’s the Smell open for its diverse masses.

With Mother Nature seemingly on a mission to tear the world around us apart, why not enjoy a fresh track that packs just as much weight as the weather? Last week, local post hardcore sect Dowager announced the approaching release of their second EP, Title Track, and subsequently shared its first single "Sleep Paralysis."

‘Dowager fever’ is quickly spreading around the states for quite good reason. They have somewhat a nostalgic approach to the genre, so if you’re wise on the ways of hardcore/metalcore/awesome from the early 2000’s, then you’ll understand. As if a premiere on Stereogum wasn’t proof enough, they’ve even landed on this week’s Top Songs of the Week for Consequence of Sound, further confirming their received national attention.

Give "Sleep Paralysis" a listen below and be sure to stop Dowager’s only October set tomorrow for drummer Ben Scott’s birthday at Valentines. Title Track is due out just after Thanksgiving on 11/25.

A dark and dreary style of acoustics, Forest Veil‘s take on "doom folk" has reached new creative and emotive heights with Zoolights. Monica Metzler, the multi-instrumentalist and producer behind the venture, drew on the cathartic release of a grief based project and the transformation of that into auditory expression.

Following the passing of Metzler’s father, she received texts from his phone number containing the word "zoolights." Taking that as a sign of his continual guidance from the cosmos, Metzler embarked on an adventure around the world called ‘Death Ritual’ where she researched the death rituals of numerous cultures. Much of that made its way onto Zoolights as field recordings, molding the album into a collection where research and intimate healing intertwine in a personal journey through despaired loss.

Zoolight‘s ten tracks encompass a wealth of history in emotion. Even the audio ("Mitla," "Forever There," "Spirit Realm") and instrumental ("Flute Interlude i, ii") interludes call for attention, but it’s Forest Veil’s original songs like the one we’re premiering today that show Metzler’s true sentiment.

"Bitter Root," much like the album’s first track "Harem" and the others, shows a certain vulnerability in Metzler through her smokey, grieved vocals and vibrating psych-like riffing. It’s a hauntingly bleary tune with a heartfelt meaning.

Zoolights is due out October 14th via Spirit House Records, with the release show Sunday, the 16th at Rontoms.