Since I moved to Portland from that sleepy college town to the south three years ago, I’ve come to recognize Point Juncture, Wa, as Portland’s quintessential “six degrees to” band. Well-respected and well-connected, everyone seems to know PJWA.

The band itself, though, has been quiet as of late. Since 2005’s Mama Auto Boss, and aside from the odd basement or club date, you likely haven’t heard much from the band lately. That’s probably a bit inherent to PJWA, as its songs are so layered, focused and detail-oriented that it takes an awful lot of studio time to perfect ‘em. That’s evidenced on “Kings,” a track from PJWA’s forthcoming but still-developing album (which may or may not be titled Heart To Elk, just as this song may or may not actually be called “Kings”). In any case, this track sounds gorgeous—with just a touch of Bossa Nova in the acoustic guitar and trumpet tracks. Amanda Spring, accordingly, sounds more like a jazz singer than ever, coming across with the same movement and tonality as Victor Nash’s aforementioned trumpet playing.

Point Juncture is one of the few bands I’d trust to take me from galloping safari drums into a slow-burn pop-jazz ballad without a hint of cheesiness. There’s a haunting quality to the track, as well, due in part to what sounds like barely-audible, wide-mouthed whispers towards the end of the track and some heavy echo on percussion and electric guitar strums. Chalk it up to the genius of PJWA’s in-band producer, Sklyer Norwood [correction: Band members Victor Paul Nash and Amanda
Spring produced it with John Askew] and mixer John Askew (Film Guerrero, Tracker).

Judging from the tracks I’ve heard thus far, Heart To Elk represents some significant musical progression, even for a group that has had its shit together pretty well to begin with.

Download audio file (kings.mp3)

Links:
PJWASpace
Jason Quigley: On the Road with PJWA

Point Juncture, WA, plays the Doug Fir this Saturday with Norfolk & Western.

Photo by Jason Quigley