Portugal. The Man - 'Denali'
Portugal. The Man return to their roots with gritty brand new single ‘Denali’.
Fresh off their surprise EP ‘uLu Selects Vol. #2’, indie band Portugal. The Man returns to the scene with their brand new track ‘Denali’. Named after the renowned Alaskan mountain, ‘Denali’ has the Alaskan-bred, Portland-based band reaching back to their roots through a synth haze and a grunge-guitar crunch.
The grungy sonic landscape of the track complements its vivid lyricism well, making it simultaneously feel like a fever dream and a protest chant. ‘Denali’ layers imagery of “purple flowers running through the fireweed” with social commentary on masculinity, exploitation, and the false promises of modern society. The repetition of the line “catch a snowflake on my tongue, can’t tell what’s real life or dreams” further emphasises the song’s dreamlike, liminal quality. Frontman John Gourley’s smooth vocals provide a striking contrast to the instrumentation of the track.
Portugal. The Man have already left a significant mark on the modern music industry with their global hit ‘Feel It Still’ which earned the group a GRAMMY award, a 7x RIAA Platinum certification, a 20-week residency at #1 on alternative radio and a long-lasting spot on the Top 40 airwaves. With the band’s upcoming ‘Denali’ headline tour this autumn in North America, fans can expect the themes of the song to further crystalise in a live setting. While Portugal. The Man have remained prolific in recent years, ’Denali’ stands out as my personal favourite track since the release of ‘Feel It Still’.
Words by Irina Atanasiu
