The clue is in the name. This band formed in Portland, Oregon. Between 1985 and 1989 they released two singles and a cassette-only album : ‘April’ .
Now, a mere three and a half decades later, comes a follow up.
Wisely, the band didn’t give up their day jobs in the interim. Chief songwriter and bassist Lee Oser is a professor of English literature. Singer Kate Oser is a children’s librarian. Lead guitarist Kevin Kraft is a software tester in Silicon Valley.
To avoid confusion with a band in Australia with the same name, they now call themselves The Riflebirds Of Portland.
Marvin Etzioni, a founding member of Lone Justice, is the musical arranger and producer as he was for their 1989 debut.
Despite the passage of time, the songs have a freshness and an easy going feel. They sound like a pop versions of blues numbers.
The inspirations range from kids stories to classic literature. The opening track Sometime Somewhere is described as ”Dr. Seuss for grown-ups” while the title number tilts towards Don Quixote.
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The Last Day of Your Love is the most personal of all which is perhaps why it’s the only time we (briefly) hear Lee Oser’s voice. He says it started out as an elegy for his stepfather but somewhere along the way also became a tribute to his late mother.
Reach Out (Touch the Divine) reflects a love of God and hatred of partisan politics while, in a lighter vein, You Win has a Buddy Holly vibe.
On the semi mystical closing song - Where Does The River Lead? Oser says ”I wanted to say something hopeful at a time when Americans had lost confidence.”
There’s a warm, optimistic feel the record that never sounds false. They took their sweet time making another record it was worth the effort.
The Riflebirds of Portland’s website
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