Portland-based producer QUIET BISON has been on a steady ascent for the past year. ‘Holding’ and his ‘Bloom’ remix showcased his promise before it became fully realized with the release of Trials and Tribulations. Today, QUIET BISON enters a new chapter with his follow-up EP, Sequence. “The origin of the word sequence’ is a succession, or to follow. So in some ways this is simply the next chapter in my musical story, following the release of Trials and Tribulations. And maybe where Trials and Tribulations was an expression of overcoming the challenges and difficulties of the creative process and of being human, Sequence might be about restoring some kind of order or finding a way to move forward through writer’s block and life,” QUIET BISON tells us.
The four-track effort sees QUIET BISON finding balance throughout. Blending an organic style with experimental soundscapes and finding peace within the chaos. “When I create, I know that each song will mean something different to each person. That’s the nature of art. We create, we express, and we put our work out there and let it speak for itself. I guess if there is anything I hoped to accomplish with the journey of the EP, it’s probably just an invitation to listen, to be challenged, and maybe to be surprised. I really wanted to take listeners through something that sounds organic yet abstract at the same time; something that is both chaotic and peaceful. With Sequence, maybe I was looking to take listeners on a journey to a new world: to an alien planet that feels completely different and yet somehow familiar,” he explains.
The project is a mesmeric journey that pulls you in from the outset. Warming, feel-good vibes welcome you on ‘Stingray,’ before colder chords hit in the drop, flowing over the soundscape like a powerful breeze. Deep bass collides with rough percussion, rounding out the beat perfectly. ‘Water’ draws inspiration from its namesake taking us into a stunning blue lagoon. It’s a slow burner that continually progresses while conjuring a divine power. Haunting vocal bends and distorted bass paints pictures of a collapsing ancient civilizations falling to a natural disaster on ‘Ultramarine.’ There’s a beautiful melancholy vibe that’s capped off with a slight sense of hopefulness. ‘Silk’ concludes the project in regal fashion. It posses the same foundation felt throughout while providing a sense of finality.
Looking for further insight into the project? Look no further than the artwork.“I wanted artwork that would reflect that abstract and organic musical aesthetic of Sequence, and as you can see, the artwork is pretty abstract, experimental, and open to interpretation, just like the EP. There are shiny elements, colorful elements, parts that are smooth and translucent, and parts that are sharp and metallic. Each element has a meaning for me, and together they achieve an unexpected and surprising balance,” QUIET BISON elaborates.
Sequence shows us that QUIET BISON’s talent is only is expanding. Enjoy the experience below.
