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As if the name weren't enough, the first two songs on this album wear their faults on their sleeve. "I Don't Know Where 2 Start" and "Highways of our Mindz" make a show of sloppy-cum-cute, like a cross between Pavement and the soundtrack to a Peanuts cartoon. On the former, Singley sings just under the notes over short bursts of guitar and elementary drums, not to mention liberal bursts of laser sound effects. "Highways of our Mindz" rolls over itself even harder, a knee-slapping sing-a-long that's unselfconscious if not exactly tuneful, sounding rosy-cheeked and squeezably soft.
Then something unexpected happens. "Yr Little Hand in Mind" is a sudden shift in mood, a fingerpicked acoustic ballad with a swooning Beach Boys choir behind Singley. The mood flips again with the following "Short Sleeve Stumblah", a burst of epileptic lo-fi, and then flattens out with "Bank of the SUN", which is just as unpredictable as the album's opening, but has a strong enough melody to hold it together. And, more lasers.
"Watersong" is another surprisingly gentle turn, a weighty piano ballad without the sap, which segues into the instrumental reprise "Seahorse". It floats into some familiar Flaming Lips territory, but it's an innocuous tribute. After hearing a few more coy, gentle songs like "Holyrollercoaster" or the country-flecked surrealism of "Underneath", inexplicable punctuation and judicious use of "z" in song titles (and the band name) seems less like attention-seeking and more like a personal quirk.
I don't love every track, but I do feel like I've entered a back door into someone's creative process, short as his attention span may be. It's hard to say if the album is greater or worse just for playing bait and switch with the first two tracks. Is pacing really that important? As is, Alan Singley and his band certainly manage to surprise, and hindsight does put those opening tracks in a new, more tolerable light. What started out sounding like nothing I needed to hear became, just maybe, the work of an unsure talent. I'm very curious to hear what he does next, whether he decides to embrace or eschew cohesion in his records. Lovingkindness sits somewhere in between, shuffling its feet.
-Jason Crock, October 19, 2006 - pitchfork
"The quartet plays wide-eyed sing along pop, like Daniel Johnston fronting the Polyphonic Spree" - Seattle Weekly
"Singley is one of our town's most precious and offbeat performers." - Portland Mercury
"Look out, Portland, this band could wear the pop pants in your town." - Magnet
Discography
(2009) Feelin' Citrus, (2006) Lovingkindness, (2005) Audiobicyclette, (2003) Oh, Salad Days!,
Lovindkindness reached #118 on CMJ
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Bio
Portland, Oregon six-piece, Alan Singley and Pants Machine weave a tight, groovy pop sound that will shake you up and mellow you out. Their latest album "Feelin' Citrus" is an orchestral indie rock cocktail packed with genuine sunshine and vitamin-c. On your stereo or on the stage, these gems will surely have you under a citrus spell.
The band is led by 27-year old, Burt Bacharach afficianado, Alan Singley, who wrote and aranged all 12 songs for,"Feelin' Citrus", while teaching music at a local non-profit. Singley quickly grew more confident in his arranging and conducting abilities surrounded by many of Portland's most elite orchestral players in his day to day routine.
Alan Singley and Pants Machine's music covers a full spectrum of emotions and styles and as Pitchfork.com describes, "certainly manages to surprise". However unpredictable, one can tell every song has been thouroughly crafted by a quirky, introspective, lover-of-life. Sometimes the lyrics are psychedlic free verse, other times they read like a conversation, but are always inspired by real life: bikes, rice pudding, urban sprawl, home.
Pants Machine formed in 2003 as a two piece with Singley and then drummer Benjamin Jaspers. At first they played gritty basement ditties, but the sound quickly evolved when they were joined by bassist Gus Elg, and jazz guitarist Leb Borgerson. In 2006 they released "Lovingkindness" which eventually climbed to 118 on CMJ. In 2008 they were joined by a new drummer, Scott Hayden, and horn section, Reed Wallsmith and Jacob Potter, drawing them ever closer towards pop perfection.
"Feelin' Citrus" was a totally D.I.Y undertaking, with the band self-producing and bassist, Gus Elg as lead engineer. At every step, great care was given to stirring up magic on each track. All the party jams were recorded live in a secluded cabin in Idaho and all the ballads were recorded live with a ten-piece orchestra. The album was mixed at Portland's legendary Jackpot! Studios and includes guest appearances from members of Portland's Talkdemonic, Point Juncture, WA, and Blue Cranes.
It took two years, a trip to the emergency room, and even a lineup change, but on August 25th, Alan Singley and Pants Machine unleash "Feelin' Citrus" on Portland's own, Bladen County Records. September brings a West Coast tour and the band is already in pre-production for the follow up to "Feelin' Citrus".
PUBLICITY: Chris Hnat at 2:30 Publicity
RADIO: Spectre Entertainment
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