Aan evokes emotion in a way that is both unsettling and exciting. Delivering a constant flow of unconventional melodies, haunting feedback and expanding sound, the mind-altering experience is one to remember. There is an ideal mix of experimental rock with an alternative backbone and a heavy psyche-pop flirtation. This isn’t just noise. Jump on the vehicle of tingling soundscapes to get away from your micro-managing boss, needy friends and significant other who no longer has anything in common with you. Get away from anything you want with this island-escapism rock. They will be playing at Bunk Bar on November 12th with LA babes, Gothic Tropic and local musician Neal Morgan. Lend your imagination but leave your expectations about local music behind. – Colette Pomerleau

Just Lions have released a new video for the title track off of their Monsters EP. The nostalgic black and white video portrays a story of young couple falling in love and being attacked by a ghoulish antagonist in between shots of the band rocking out in a campy set. Watch the video below and be sure to see Just Lions tonight at Doug Fir with Symmetry Symmetry and Alexander Tragedy. – Benjamin Toledo

Formed in spring of 2012, Grandhorse gallops in with Portraiturefolio, their fierce debut effort. According to the band’s bio, it all started with guitarist Adam Steinfink and drummer Devon Shirley writing songs in a "dank basement". Despite the dank origins, the two (along with guitarist David Lloyd and singer Adam Smith) have produced a cloud-worthy canon of celestial pop, bound for ascension. The opening track, "Short Ride With A Kidnapper" butts dark lyrics against deceivingly pleasant pop. "Out of Sight" is smothered in gloomy webs of guitar and "Ocean" gives us a simple, surf-laden 3/4 piece with a catchy 50’s feel. "Heart Strings", my personal favorite, features an infectious guitar melody layered over a stable bass and synth drone. In all these tracks, Grandhorse has a keen way of adding in a layer of Tame Impala-esque fuzz. Portaiturefolio also shines in its lyrical complexity. In "Qualia", what appears at first to be a raucous party jam progresses into a poignant, philosophical commentary on substance use, perception and ultimate subjectivity. Another stand-out, the epic closer,"Petrichor", sets an enigmatic schizophrenic dialogue to a dense and driving backdrone, culminating in a wonderfully cathartic 4 minute jam of pure sonic release. Definitely worth a listen, Portaiturefolio depicts a band sure to be on to bigger things. – Ted Jamison

Melville is a band with roots in americana and alt-country. Those roots clearly influenced their new album, however the current sound that is Melville is firmly filed under the "rock and roll" section at your local record store, in case you were hoping to pick up a copy of the band’s recently released EP, Maquette. With an anything but shallow rock sound, Melville mixes layered electric guitars in unique and often beautiful ways, taking a break from a driving song line up to bring moving instrumental rock moments like “Einleitung” to life. Ryan T. Jacobs is the front man and creator of this four piece force and it is clear he has worked hard to create a tight band and album with diversity and heart. See Melville tomorrow night at the Hawthorne Theatre with Minor Alps and The Upside Down. – Joy Pearson

Fine Pets cultivate different influences in such a way that it’s impossible to pin them into one specific genre. They take the raw energy you’d expect from a garage rock act, cut it with a some early shoegaze leads, a DIY punk attitude and output it through lo-fi recordings give the music an air of nostalgia. Their latest release, NO GAZE, is a collection of fuzzed-out tracks that range from calm creatures to destructive animals trying to break free from the cassette tape that holds them captive. Fine Pets will be setting these tracks lose at Habesha this Friday night, be there to celebrate their release. – Benjamin Toledo

Lovers just released a new, beautifully shot video to accompany a track named “Tiger Square” off of their latest album, A Friend in the World. Artistic shots of the band in a field, singing and drumming the organic beats at the foundation of the track are as emotive as the track itself; they simultaneously compliment the subtleties of the music and bring the lyrical content to its forefront. Watch the video below and be sure to like Lovers on facebook to keep updated with news from the dynamic synth-pop outfit. – Benjamin Toledo

LOVERS Tiger Square (Badman Recording Co.) from Badman Recording Co on Vimeo.

It’d be easy to say that The Parson Red Heads are a classic rock band. It’d be even easier to say that they’re a Portland indie-folk band. This band can excel in separate categories through well-placed songwriting that translates their music into a storyteller platform. These stories are told with their lyrics as well as their instruments. Portland music fans tend to get sensitive when they hear the word jam so I’ll say that their songs often climax in orchestrated instrumental arrangements that do not stray way from the original idea. The Parson Red Heads have been giving us fresh rock and roll with a vintage/psychedelic feel for several years and are following up the successes of their last album with a new LP, Orb Weaver. Playing alongside PRH will be Alialujah Choir and Mimicking Birds. – Colin Hudson

The festival atmosphere will be alive in Portland this weekend for a highly anticipated Halloween party. Eugene based three piece hip hop group, Medium Troy, have completely revamped their sound by putting together Bohemian Dub Orchestra. This project uses 40+ musicians to make songs alongside the glitched trip hop beats Medium Troy has been known to produce. Now, the organic productions that have covered the electronic scene over the past year can be heard within their mixes. Hints from artists such as Pretty Lights and Russ Liquid are prevalent through the use of live instruments backed by classic hip-hop beats. This show is a triple feature with Bellingham’s Acorn Project will be releasing their album Shift and performing “Daft Funk” and Portland’s new psychedelic jam squad, Dark Matter Transfer. The show is this Saturday at Refuge and will be one talked about for a long time. Events like this don’t happen every day, so put on your Ron Jeremy costume and dance like you’ve got a 12 inch dong. – Colin Hudson

If you’re new to the Portland shoegaze scene allow me to introduce you to a band that’s quickly moving to it’s forefront, Soft Shadows. This dreamy trio balances quiet vocal melodies with electronic drumbeats and reverberating guitar tones that, at times, roar into a spaced-out screams that can be heard in lo-fi clarity on their aptly-named new release, Reverb is for Lovers. The full length album captures a moving tone through it’s minimal arrangement and complex array of tonal soundscapes, yet still retains a pop element that can make an entranced listener lift their head and break into an energetic dance. Soft Shadows will be celebrating the release of Reverb is for Lovers tonight at Bunk Bar with Appendixes and Wishyunu, you can also stream Reverb is for Lovers in its entirety on their bandcamp page. – Benjamin Toledo  

Based in New London CT and subsequently San Luis Obispo CA, Quiet Life has settled in Portland and brought with them an excellent new album off of Mama Bird Recording Company. Wild Pack (releases on 10/29) blends classic indie folk with tambourine revival-stomp and covers it all in a healthy shade of the blues. Among other influences the band (whose members have been involved in such projects as Delorean, Hip Hatchet and Holy Sons) attribute Wild Pack‘s inspiration to "the road and women". This is particularly evident in the poignant lyrical focus on lost love and the torment of a restless lover. Aside from the lyrics, the blues ache seeps particularly into the track, "Low Blues" a dusty rambler of a busy guitar blues to the beat of nothing but a tambourine (no vocals either). "Devils Kin" chugs along like a Velvet Underground tune complete with a Lou Reed drawl. "New London" is an epic build up of a ballad where organ drone layered with careful, quiet keys stack into a raucous harmonica jam.The organ shines nicely in the album as a whole whether it is beaming chords clear and true, growling them into existence, or just purring with idle vibrato. In short, these guys know how to make a record and Wild Pack certainly deserves your ears. – Ted Jamison

Moving from Estonia to grow up in the humble surrounding of Camas, WA, the Yagolinikov family has been making lush symphonic tracks for three years. As the yet unsigned band Kye Kye they are readying the release of their second album, Fantasize. Olga’s vocals are echoing and breathy, but she is also a songbird twirling high notes with ease. Along with her two brothers Alex and Tim mastering electronics and guitar and her husband Tommy on the drums, they navigate a cool, lucid soundscape touched with piano, horns and grooving bass. They are ambient, synth- drenched and mysterious. Catch them tonight at Bunk Bar with Leagues. – Brandy Crowe

On the latest episode of Portland’s most rockin’ music podcast, Party Boyz, Rachel and Elizabeth got hotdogs with guys from The Memories and chatted about Burger Records, life on tour, childhood memories and a whole lot more. Music from CCR, Natural Child, Sparks and Townes Van Zandt provide a soundtrack to the engaging conversation. Listen to the podcast below and, as always, check out their facebook page to keep updated with all things Party Boyz. – Benjamin Toledo