Blouse announce fall European tour dates

Following the release of their sophomore album ‘Imperium,’ Portland’s Blouse have already gone out on multiple North American tours, recently wrapping up a tour with Dum Dum Girls, as well as a European tour. Now, the band will play their hometown’s Holocene this month, Ponderosa Festival in Rock Creek, BC and then head back to Europe for a bunch of gigs this fall, including Barcelona’s BAM Festival. See the full list of tour dates below.

September tour dates:
06/13 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
08/24 – Rock Creek. B.C. @ Ponderosa Festival
09/10 – Marina di Ravenna, Italy @ Hana Bi
09/11 – Rome, Italy @ Circolo degli Artisti
09/12 – Milan, Italy @ Ohibo Club
09/13 – Zagreb, Croatia @ Kino Gric
09/14 – Vienna, Austria @ Arena
09/15 – Cologne, Germany @ King Georg
09/16 – Tilburg, Netherlands @ Incubate @ Extase
09/17 – Paris, France @ La Plage (Glazart)
09/18 – Bordeaux, France @ Iboat
09/19 – Barcelona, Spain @ BAM Festival

‘Imperium’ Tracklisting:
1. Imperium
2. Eyesite
3. 1000 Years
4. In a Glass
5. Capote
6. A Feeling Like This
7. No Shelter
8. Happy Days
9. Arrested
10. Trust Me

Watch the beautiful video for A Feeling Like This, which is lifted from ‘Imperium’.

[youtube_sc url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtSFq7I9aGA” theme=”light”]

More about Blouse? Evolution is a tricky word when discussing current trends in music, especially when it comes to sophomore albums. The critically lauded ‘BLOUSE,’ the 2011 debut from the Portland band of the same name was a lush, melodic and dreamy affair spiked with whoozy synths and delicate vocals. For ‘Imperium,’ their second LP for Captured Tracks, Blouse have shed the synths, done away with drum machines and wrote and recorded with “instruments that don’t plug into the wall,” as enforced by band member/producer Jacob Portrait.

Sonically speaking, that comes through on the LP immediately. Perhaps bolstered by the ongoing construction occurring next to the studio while the record was being made, the sense of force and urgency propelling the record is evident. Patrick Adams’ driving bass and plodding drums in the title track usher in this new guitar-friendlier Blouse; more direct and clearer of vision, but still mysterious and beautiful.

Jacob and Patrick’s Pacific Northwest alt-rock roots (filtered through post-punk and V/U) are a great counterpoint to ex-pat Southern CA transplant Charlie Hilton’s Cohen / Patti / Nico singer/songwriter nature. The dichotomy of those two forces on tracks like No Shelter and 1000 Years are at the core of Imperium. These are delicate songs from the perspective of a valley girl who grew up with gurus and ashrams played by indie lifers on a steady diet of NEU! It makes it all the more understandable to have showers of acoustic guitars and (real, not synthesized) cellos interrupted by fuzz guitar.

But these interruptions aren’t a bad thing, they’re what makes Imperium the great record it is. A Feeling Like This describes it perfectly; it’s a strange place that you’re weirdly familiar with. Warm but also kind of spooky and imposing, you want to stay there for longer than you’re invited. Thankfully, it’s ok to flip it over and listen to it again.