PORTICO - Progeny Blues

Copperspine Records
Published September 6, 2007  by Jason Lewis in Record Reviews

Portico are simply one of the best Canadian bands working today. Even if lead singer Lyn Heinemann wasn’t a husky sweet powerhouse vocalist, the rest of the band have mastered the art of mixing delicate musical phrasing with mid-tempo urgency. Whether they function as a standard four-piece or flesh out the material with epic gang vocals, or a surprisingly effective horn section, there isn’t one note out of place on Progeny Blues.
    The best thing about the album is that despite the totally modern sound, Portico is able to borrow quite heavily from the musical past. It’s not just the references to vintage Face to Face and Phleg Camp in the lyrics either. The guitars tumble and cascade with Chicago post-rock precision and Heinemann channels such great indie rock divas as Liz Phair and Rebecca Gates while the crisp rhythm section keeps it all in check. With Progeny Blues, Portico surpasses their jaw-dropping debut and sets the bar high for any that try to follow them up.



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