Most people know Jon Porras as one half of the spooky desert-jam outfit Barn Owl. And yes, a select few fans are also aware of his far-more provocative career as the understudy-to-the-third-understudy for one of the Jonas Brothers (I’m not sure which one, exactly. I think all of them?). But it seems hardly anyone — outside of us consummate musical insiders here at TMT — really knows him as a solo artist.
Well, all that shit’s about to change on March 25, when ol’ whats-his-name releases his new full-length album, entitled Light Divide, on the Thrill Jockey label! For once, it’ll be HIS NAME out there, all alone in that typically very crowded spooky drone-rock spotlight! And don’t look now, but I’ve even got some juicy press release hyperbole to get the accolade-ball rolling:
Light Divide showcases Porras as “shifting his focus entirely to electronic synthesis, using a wide array of analog and digital systems to exponentially expand his sonic palate.” Can you believe it? The results are “silhouettes of distant rhythms, abstracted traces of techno wastelands that come in and out of focus like an urban, post-industrial sprawl being overtaken by fog.” Hell yes. And the results of that are billions of dollars, a couple of entourages, and a Maserati truck full of Mercury Prizes!
Ha. For real though, Porras is also totally playing a set at this year’s Austin Psych Fest in April, and you can pre-order the album (LP + download) from the Thrill Jockey website right-the-heck now. And both of those things make him a hell of a lot cooler and more famous than I am! So I’ll just shut up now.
Light Divide tracklisting:
01. Apeiron
02. Recollection
03. Divide
04. New Monument
05. Pleiades
• Jon Porras: http://www.jonporras.com
• Thrill Jockey: http://www.thrilljockey.com
[Photo: Sky Madden]
More about: Barn Owl, Jon Porras
