Portland super group Tada is coming out of hibernation with their third self-released album since 2008, Way Out. The album offers listeners an elegant ebb and flow of sonic tension and release. Although it sounds soft as a kitten at times, and showcases beautiful instrumentation and harmonies by the album’s numerous collaborative members (including members of Builders and the Butchers, Cambrian Explosion, Kelli Shaefer, Modern Kin, and Turbo Perfecto to name a few), it’s not a stretch to feel the presence of Tada front-man Matt Thornton’s dark roots in hardcore and metal music.
Thornton was awesome enough to give The Deli Portland the privilege to be the first to share his tracks ‘Not Alone’ and ‘Way Out.’
‘Not Alone’ begins with the melancholic, slow drone of Matt’s bass strumming, but quickly transforms into a newly inspired, upbeat, banger as he is joined by piano and then drums, as if he’s just realized that significance of who the musicians are who’ve just joined him. Appropriately enough to that theme, the song ends with the triumphant chanting of “we are not alone”, leaving the listener with that feeling of, “fuck… we can do this shit!”
The album’s title track, ‘Way Out’ carries a similar droning, washy resonance of sadness, but builds to an epic climax of reverbed-out slide guitar, cello and heavy drums. This track has the brilliant and heavy feel of something you would expect to hear if Mogwai, Pink Floyd and OK Computer era Radiohead were to drop acid together and write a song in one day. It’s a good thing.
Join Tada for the release of Way Out at Red and Black Café on March 15. Kelli Shafer opens up the show at 7pm and Old Age close out the night.
– Travis Leipzig and Cory Huennekens