Jordan Hudson and company draft painterly, wandering sounds that seem to drift effortlessly into your ears. The atmosphere is somber yet sweet; soothing, yet experimental. See a sparse and surreal landscape that could easily be the soundtrack to a David Lynch film or outtakes from early Sonic Youth.
The Operacycle is now a three piece perfoming a repertoire that draws from the feel of Warmer with sophisticated vibrophone, fingerpicked electic guitar and start/stop loping bass lines.The live version works it's way through more peaks and valleys, giving the band a dynamic range that most three peices can't touch (in my opinion). The Operacycle is the brainchild of Jordan Hudson, now the toast of Portland post-rock. This is how I met him:
Jordan tagged a long with Amy to a soireé I was having. He said he was making some electronic / acoustic music on his Mac. He was sweet and understated and let me borrow a copy. I liked the tape.
I'd see Jordan out and about after that. I think I saw him play with four different bands in the space of a month. I really liked his crisp drumming style.
It was just this winter that we were putting together the MUTE comps at a brunch and Jordan dropped a CD on us all. It's a shame he wasn't included on that comp because his instrumentals were thoughtfully recorded, texturally interesting gems.
I suggested he record some more and put out a full length on HUSH. Violá: Warmer.
The Operacycle is a welcome addition to the HUSH roster (lest we be pigeonholed as singer songwriters), rounding out all things anti-rock with the clever use of combs, bubble wrap and electric razors in his enchanting panoramic music.
-Chad Crouch