portal: links
On the airwaves...
It would be impossible to list all of the musical artists, groups, styles, and traditions that have helped shape what Portal has become. Here are a select few whose efforts have moulded us the most.
I Mother Earth
When Kenton finally made the transition from cassettes to CD's, Scenery & Fish was his first purchase, and has not left the CD player in nine years. One of the most intricately produced albums of all-time, you'll find layer upon layer upon layer of stunningly complex, and ingeniously subtle textures. After a hundred spins, you can still put the headphones on and hear something you've never heard before.Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor is, quite simply, the most uninhibted mind in music today. An absolute genius, both in the boardroom and in the studio. The Fragile is several strokes of genius rolled into one phenomenal package.Soundgarden
Seattles best export, grunge's most intelligent representatives, and one of Portal's favourite and most influential bands. Superunknown, Badmotorfinger, and Louder Than Love have all made our top albums lists. Check out "The Day I Tried to Live" and "Fresh Tendrils" on Superunknown. Unreal.tool
In Tool, progressive genius has found an instrumentation and a vibe for those who seek not only complexity, but emotion and intrigue too. Danny Carey's powerful drumming, Maynard's haunting voice, Justin Chancellor's rhythmic bass lines, and Adam Jones' ethereal guitar work - perfectly complimentary.
One of my favourite 3:00 A.M. past times is to surf the Internet looking for online discussions about (and links to Portal), many of which are often accompanied by comparisons to other groups and artists. The list below is just a handful, and if you are a fan of one of the following, feel free to have a listen to Portal (HiFi, LoFi) and decide for yourself!
A Perfect Circle
The pet project of Billy Howerdel, APC has enlisted the services of a number of the industry's top artists, including Maynard James Keenan of Tool, James Iha of The Smashing Pumpkins, and Josh Freese, who has wowed fans of countless artists during his drumming career.Chevelle
Great vocal harmonies and lead vocal grit help give this metal band a much more musical feel than many of their contemporaries. Well worth a listen.Dredg
Never having listened to Dredg before, it would be difficult to comment on their sound. We've heard enough comparisons over the last few months to want to check them out, however, and they've got a great looking website.Finger Eleven
Old favourites die hard. Finger Eleven's Tip was one of our favourite CD's during Portal's formative stages, and similarities have often been drawn between James' and Kenton's vocals. Portal does a kick-ass cover of Quicksand, too.Opeth
Opeth is yet another example of a band to which Portal has consistently been compared, but one we have yet to be exposed to. I'm sure the new iTunes account will quickly change that, but in the meantime, we'll let you be the judge.VAST
Vast might be the only project, to date, that we have in fact pursued
(and thoroughly enjoyed) since we heard about them from fans. The brainchild of Jon Crosby, VAST's melancholic approach and smooth production are mirrored in some of Portal's more sombre laments, such as A Cleansing Breath.
While "influence" may not be the best word to describe the role that the following bands have played in our lives, we nevertheless have a profound respect for what they do. These are some of our favourite independent artists.
eXterio
eXterio fait son chemin de façon indépendante depuis 1992. Sur une période de 13 ans, le groupe a fait sa trace au Québec, en Ontario, en France et en Angleterre avec sa discographie de chansons rock alternatives aux textes absurdes.My Sister Ocean
We can't say enough good things about My Sister Ocean. Their support, sincerity, kindness, and professionalism have been unbelievable, and they play a mean set to boot!Neevah
SInce their days as Haven, Neevah has been one of Portal's closest allies in the Alberta indie rock scene, and now that Andrew is on loan, there's twice as many reasons for us to tip our caps.Retrograde
On the strength of a brilliant independent release, The Frequencies We Share, and a recent win at the Molson Rock Search, Retrograde is taking North American by storm. While our styles are very different, we'd be lying if we said we didn't envy their position just a little.S.O.S.
S.O.S. have always been tremendously supportive of what we do, and are fellow-activists in the fight for social justice. Great musicians, great world view, and great friends.Tiles
Tiles was recommended to us by a supporter in Cincinnati, and we were immediately impressed. If you like Porcupine Tree, be sure to check them out.Tupelo Honey
You may never meet a group of more down-to-earth, sincerely nice individuals than the boys in Tupelo Honey. Despite being on the verge of greatness, they remain grounded, friendly, and composed, and we wish them all the best.
And, to round out the lists, here are some other artists and bands that may not have influenced us in any significant way, but we love nonetheless!