FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Music

Listen to a New Estranged Song Ahead of Their First Australian Tour

Though their sound may have changed slightly over the years the Estranged still very much approach music with a punk mindset.

Since forming in 2006, Portland’s the Estranged have punched out a dark, foreboding style of post-punk. Early albums released on local Rose City label Dirtnap had that trebly but raw sound of Portland’s most famous punk sons the Wipers, while later releases took on a more British sound that brought to mind a tougher Echo and the Bunnymen. Their most recent, a self titled album released on German label Sabotage even has elements of the Cure’s melody filtered though the band member’s longtime involvement in US punk and hardcore.

Advertisement

Listen to a forthcoming track “Frozen Fingers” and read a quick chat we had with Keith and Mike before the band tour Australia with Melbourne's Infinite Void.

Noisey: Is it true that Portland is America’s ‘whitest’ large city?
Keith: That's not really an easy question to answer. There are a lot of factors that go into the race make up of a city. The short explanation might be that Portland has typically been a smaller working class city. I think its geographic location has a bit to do with it having a higher “white population. The city has changed a lot since I moved here over 20 years ago (especially over the last 5 years) lots of the industry that Portland was built around is gone and the population has sort of exploded recently. It seems like it's become a sort of “retirement” spot for upper middle class and wealthier groups of people from wealthier parts of the country (mostly California). This has driven the rent up to rates that have made it very hard for long time residents and more working class families. I'd say the issue is more of a class one and less specific to race though and not really something you could explain well in a short answer.

I like the change of sound with each release. Gone is the straight up Wipers influence but there is still a strong punk sound.
Keith: I feel like there are really only a few Wipers influences on those early songs. It seems like at that time people who were reviewing the records just had less of an idea of what our influences were and being from Portland the Wipers were just the first thing that came up when they tried to find something to compare it to. I'd hope all of our releases would sound a bit different from each other.

Advertisement

The Subliminal Man album was inspired by the story by J.G. Ballard. It’s interesting to note how many punks and punk bands are influenced by his work.
Mark: I saw Cronenberg’s Crash when it came out and thought it was utterly unique and disturbingly provocative. Then I actually read some stuff by him and was even more intrigued. Songs like “Atrocity Exhibition” by Joy Division and “Cars” by Gary Numan just seem to go hand in hand with what they were already emulating. I think the people who make that kind of cold sounding music are more drawn to his bleak and perverse imagery. I think it’s this sort of complacency or an appreciation for his strange discontent that inspires people.

You guys have been playing punk music for a while. How long do you see yourself playing? Fred and Toody Cole from Dead Moon longish?
Mark: I'll be playing music for as long as I live. If I'm not playing it would probably mean I'm clinically depressed or in a coma or both. Fred and Toody are a pretty big inspirations to much of the younger indie-punk kids. I think their situation is a bit more unique than most band mates. Being married and in love with your band mate can probably extend the longevity of a band tenfold. Although, I can't really guarantee that I'll be playing with the same people at such an age but who knows? Maybe Keith will marry me?

Is Dirtnap records still integral to Portland’s punk scene? How about the recording studio Black Water?
Keith: That's an interesting question. It depends on who you asked. I'd like to think Black Water has been and still is an integral part of the Portland punk scene. I try hard to support the scene as much as possible. Right now we have about 25 or so bands that rehearse there with a handful of art studios and label offices along with the record store and the recording studio Evan runs that's been cranking out some top notch records over the past few years. Also been working on trying to get an all ages venue running for a while now. We had a pretty cool spot going for some years but the venue space got shut down. Kind of forcing us to go a bit less underground which might make things interesting in the coming years.

What has been your connection with Australian punk or music so far?
Mark: I think some of the best music has come from Australia. The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party, These Immortal Souls, the Scientists, Radio Birdman, the Saints, the Moodists all of which and more I've been obsessed with. Also, there are some great Australian films. Peter Weir is great. I loved his older film The Cars That Ate Paris. I'm also a fan of the "Ozploitation" stuff like Long Weekend, Road Games, and Fair Game an exceptional Straw Dogs-esque cinematic feat.
Keith: I was there in 2009 with a band called Lebenden Toten and have helped set up shows and tours for a handful of Australian bands in the US. We have a lot of good friends there and are looking forward to making new ones on this trip.

Catch the Estranged and Infinite Void this February:
Feb 12 – Melbourne at the Bendigo Hotel
Feb 13 – Melbourne at the Tote
Feb 14 – Adelaide at Ancient World
Feb 18 – Newcastle at Hamilton Station Hotel
Feb 19 – Sydney at Red Rattler
Feb 20 – Sydney at Monster Mouse
Feb 21 – Brisbane at the Bearded Lady
Feb 22 – Brisbane at 199 Upstairs