ENJOY THIS RUIN

Despite being their second full-length effort, Enjoy This Ruin serves as my introduction to the beautifully eccentric prog of Portland's Rainbow Face. They identify the likes of Black Midi, Squid, as The Smile as influences, which initially had me thinking they would reside somewhere in the post-punk or avant-garde vein. While I wasn't far off, the band uses these elements in a unique manner that places them in a category of their own.

Opening with a grandiose number entitled "Left Behind," Rainbow Face begins the proceedings with a decidedly Floyd- ian theme that soon gives way to a thrilling mix of circus calliope over an intricate bass line. For all of its fun and off- time quirkiness, however, the song is oddly catchy in a way that is remarkably similar to the work of fellow Portland- ians The Mercury Tree. This turned out to be no coincidence, as drummer Connor Reilly tows the rhythm section in that outfit, as well. Nonetheless, it's important to note that whatever similarities exist between the two bands are more in terms of their creative spirit than anything explicitly musical.

"Automation" begins with a shuffling guitar riff before taking a full-on plunge into odd time signatures and frantic vocals. Later moments see the band dwelling in psychedelic territory, until they jump back into the fray and expertly resolve the song with a triumphant melody. Third track "Virus" throws a curveball with some classic punk overtones, a la The Clash. That all changes, however, with a tight segue at 3:52 that leads into a sort of "ebb and tide" between quieter post-punk sections, frantic Dead Kennedys-inspired mayhem, and fuzzed-out guitar solos.

"My Crusade" shows a bit of Squid's aesthetic, with an infectious chord progression that quickly dissolves into a simmering pool of discord. It is here that the band employs a full spectrum of dynamic contrast to create an atmosphere that is oddly poignant and introspective. All bets are off at 2:43, however, as guitarist and vocalist Jake Rose breaks into a riff that recalls the work of Boud Deun's Shawn Persinger.

Fifth track "Borders" features an arpeggiated minor-key riff, with vocals not unlike those of Adrian Belew or Thought Industry's Brent Oberlin. The keyboards on this track evoke visions of a slightly brain-damaged Greg Hawkes (ex-The Cars) before moving into a powerfully epic theme that shows strong chemistry between Rose and bassist Dominique Reveneau. Angular riffs continually build and build as the intensity reaches a fever pitch, eventually bursting into a skronk-y fireball of chaos and doom.

A rollicking drum pattern introduces "Ransom," which is soon accompanied by a quirky fusion-based riff by keyboardist Salvador Altamirano-Farrell. As guitar and bass join over the first verse, the melodies begin to frantically whirl and spin into a delightfully entropic mass that almost seems spiritual at times. This song truly showcases the band's compositional genius, with later sections alternating between jazzy, marimba-like sequences, subtle piano themes, and heavier riffs that border on progressive metal.

Closing track "Drown" sports an intro that is oddly dreamy yet grounded, not unlike Radiohead's more pensive moments. Soft piano, organ, and clean guitar dominate this track until just before the halfway mark, when they throw in various twists and turns that are guaranteed to keep you guessing. The song exhibits multiple stages throughout its eight-minute duration, and it sports some fantastic melodies along the way. It is worth mentioning that the musicians show considerable restraint here, as "Drown" never becomes flatly aggressive. Had they allowed it to end in a display of noise and fury, the emotional impact would have been lost.

While there are occasional parallels to Reilly's gig with The Mercury Tree, Rainbow Face is undoubtedly its own free- standing entity. In fact, I would rank Enjoy This Ruin as one of 2024's best progressive offerings without reservation. Here's hoping that their journey has just begun, as I can't wait to see where they go from here.

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