Portland - 'Lay Me Down'
Dreampop outfit Portland make their return with soaring alternative pop release ‘Lay Me Down’ which hits just about as hard as our first introduction to the band; single ‘Lucky Clover’.
‘Lay Me Down’ sways and wanders, dreams and echoes like no other alt pop single, playing with the colours of summer being around the corner and stunning vocal harmonies that fill the space between instruments. Their new indie pop release plays with the elements that made them stand out to us over the course of the previous years, but shows growth and confidence and a simple need to create. “‘Lay Me Down’ wears the scars of recent years on its sleeves, but at the same time expresses an irrepressible zest for life”, it is melancholic and echoes heartache yet sounds uplifting and electrifying.
The road towards ‘Lay Me Down’ wasn’t without its obstacles, but persistence brought it to us. Singer and guitarist Jente Pironet’s world stopped turning abruptly in 2023 when he found out he had a brain tumour and was told he’d have a year to go. Instead of hanging his head, he clenched his fists and embarked on a long and exhausting journey of rehabilitation. On ‘Lay Me Down’, his triumphant musical return, we hear this determination, a soft hopefulness and a new appreciation for life. The shimmer that shines through expresses itself into elements soaring guitar work and an in- and declining rhythm that peaks at its anthemic chorus.
‘Lay Me Down’ comes ahead of the band’s appearance at London’s The Waiting Room on the 6th of June. With an in 2024 received MIA (Belgian Music Industry Award) and the ability to return to the stage under strict medical supervision, Pironet has regained his strength and confidence. Nearly two years after the diagnosis, a third Portland album is almost ready. If ‘Lay Me Down’ is any inclination of what we are able to expect from the album, we are in for a real, passionate, and lively alternative pop treat.
Words by Laura Rosierse
