Wax Orchard [CD, 2007]

Seattle is bursting at the seams with new and exciting pop artists.  Three Imaginary Girls are about to embark on their 5th anniversary.  There’s rumor of the first ever Seattle Pop Fest in the mix for this coming summer.  And Terrene will soon arrive via the production of Phil Ek (The Shins, Built To Spill, Modest Mouse).  Fronted by John Dylan, Terrene’s debut album opens with “51,” a song hailed by Spin Magazine back in the 90s when Dylan was a solo-artist.

Terrene blends countless genres for a very unique sound.  Dylan’s style of writing is sometimes reminiscent of an octave-lower Jeff Hanson (namely in “Fixed Up”), while containing a nasal-ish quality—rather than mimicking Alec Ounsworth, Dylan’s voice is clear and composed.  Traces of an Elephant 6 style psychedelic pop can be found and even hints of Sunny Day Real Estate (circa How It Feels To Be Something On...) underlying more modern and mainstream pop sensibilities are present. 

However, those are not the qualities that set Terrene apart from other pop artists.  They add in a few post-rock traits that are common in groups like Explosions in the Sky—that rapid one-note strumming that produces an epic, dreamy sound.  While “51” is the first single off The Indifferent Universe, it will be a surprise if “Media Sift Through Heart Rises” does not soon follow. “Unwelcome” and "Stereo!" may also be contenders for future Terrene singles.

“Mermaid” concludes The Indifferent Universe, out this July, building softly from a slow and spacious beginning to a quiet, reality-altering conclusion. From the behemoth post-rock-pop to the melancholy ballads, be prepared for Terrene to take over your non-commercial airwaves.  And be prepared for The Indifferent Universe to blow your mind.

Terrene (Homepage)

Terrene (MySpace)  

1. 51
2. Andromeda
3. Makr
4. What We’ll Never Be
5. Stereo
6. Regret
7. Media Sift Through Heart Rises
8. Enemy Landlord
9. Unwelcome
10. Fixed Up
11. Spirits On The Shelf
12. The Indifferent Universe
13. Mermaid