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ports of call bio...
atmospheric dream pop akin to My Bloody Valentine and Ride combined with drugged out psychedelic rock....
Ports of Call began in 2007 when former Aircrash/L'Envoi band mates Tom Fleischer and Thomas Mosher reunited and joined forces with former House of Fire drummer Daniel Salerno. The band began writing material at a feverish pace but knew that something was missing. The group began to search for a second vocalist and soon found a perfect match in Carolynne McNeel (also of Rarebirds, Grammar Debate, Roomtone and formerly April Disaster). McNeel added essential guitar, string, and keyboard elements as well as vocals as they entered Second Story Studios in West Chester, PA to record their debut album.
"Like Thieves..." is the result of the ambitious beginnings of the band, from the drugged out rock of "Honey" to the shoegaze perfection of "Here We Are" and "Washout" all topped off by the dream pop bliss of tracks like "Claire" and "Aireals." After recording the album, bassist Andrew Grossman departed and was replaced by Stephanie Hesser (formerly of Daymaker). The now complete quintet released their debut album "Like Thieves..." in February of 2008 amidst a growing internet buzz.
reviews
"...the crowd ate up every second of sound Ports of Call provided. Salerno's drums drove songs forward, along with McNeel's tambourine on a few songs, behind beautiful three part harmonies that walked the line of haunting and eerie... Ports of Call is an absolute must to see perform live.
-popwreck(oning)
"As simple as it may be for many musicians to hum a melody and relay it into instrumental form, capturing a sense of atmospheric believability is a skill that cannot simply be taught…it would be quite easy for me to group Ports of Call into the masses of shoegaze revivalists…but they, unlike many of their contemporaries, clearly have the ability to craft an audible atmosphere through their musical prowess alone. Whether it be through their haunting production effects, reverbed vocals, or resoundingly sterile guitars, their atmospheric ability is easy to admire.”
-Obscure Sound
“With their debut album “Like Thieves....” they have cleverly sidestepped all of the faux pas that led to the genres demise first time around. Shoegaze came under heavy fire for it’s self-congratulatory attitude, meaningless lyrics and pretentious pomposity coupled with shy, awkward live performances…With “Like Thieves...”, Ports of Call have married the shimmering effulgent walls of noise with tangible melodies, resplendent reverb-infused vocals and a firm anchorage to the philosophy of alternative rock…Rather than feeling like you’re listening to half an hour of pretty noise, the end result is a rich, evolving tapestry of heartfelt art.”
-Strangeglue UK Rated 8/10
“Philadelphia five-piece Ports of Call aren’t the first band to bathe in the tuneful shoegaze jangling of Ride, but they’ve soaked up the influences to nice effect. On “Washout”, from their self-released Like Thieves..., some wobbly guitar strums,smoldering distortion, and faraway warbles surround a measured bass line, cymbals splashing right behind them. Thomas Mosher, on guitar, and Carolynne McNeel—who plays guitars, violins and keyboards in the group-- trade sweet, C86-ready nothings in duet, their whispery voices barely emerging above the din.”
-Pitchfork
"so enter Ports of Call as another shoegaze act that you should get familiar with this year. The Philly quintet blends psychedelic with atmospheric in the most beautiful of ways, painting haunting soundscapes which are highlighted by the interplay of innocent boy/girl vocals that are almost drowned out by the noise.
-Friction NYC
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