Portland Cello Project

The Thao & Justin Power Sessions (Kill Rock Stars)

By Amanda McCorquodale
Published: July 1st, 2009 | 7:00am

With previous cello-laden covers of Britney Spears, R. Kelly, and Nintendo game theme songs, one doesn't know quite what to expect from Portland Cello Project’s The Thao & Justin Power Sessions. However, gimmicks are all but absent from PCP’s second album and instead, the emphasis is on composition, lyrics, and arrangements. Guest vocalists Thao Nguyen and Portland folkie Justin Power contribute four songs each. The remaining four tracks are instrumentals, but — less you think these are cause for snooze-ville — note that one is “Mouth For War,” a rocking Pantera cover.

While the instrumental tracks serve as a crisp intermission, those featuring Nguyen and Power are delightfully different, in both composition and lyrical content. Nguyen's jaunty and playful voice hovers winsomely around soaring cello chords. On “Tallymarks,” Nguyen turns reflective — but anything backed by cellos feels a bit more cerebral. Lesser-known Justin Power shines the brightest; his rough tenor voice, similar to Justin Vernon of Bon Iver or a folksier Thom Yorke, is haunting yet comforting and melodic but raw. “Hungry Liars” is a standout track where Power croons “Don’t believe those hungry liars / Whose mouths are like factories / Never ceasing / Still consuming / Always burning / Smoke will not stop billowing.” Sounds pretty dark, eh? But here’s the magic of cello strings: they turn such maudlin brooding into sonic bliss.

The arresting power of the cello helps explain how PCP’s live shows garner standing O's after two hours of classical experimentation. “Hungry Liars” is so good, you'll wish you had Power and a cellist following you around as troubadours, adding gravitas and meaning to every action and thought.

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