Explode Into Colors - Quilts (Kill Rock Stars)

Collections like Quilts are bittersweet. Portland’s Explode Into Colors imploded into obscurity before most people even knew they existed, leaving behind only six songs and plenty of disappointed listeners. This trio produced music that was catchy, dark, and psychedelic, and these six sides (which collects the three seven inch singles they released in 2009) tie together post-punk, no wave, funk, and even a little bit of surf! Were this the 1980s, they’d have had a deal with Factory; if it were the 1990s, they’d be on Kill Rock Stars—who, not surprisingly, have compiled their three singles into this one package. The music could be compared to The Raincoats, ESG, and the grittier side of Bush Tetras, while lead singer Claudia Meza has a husky voice not dissimilar to Siouxsie Sioux. Okay, so these ladies were more post-punk than anything, but their style was in constant flux—from the tribal drumming of “Sharpen the Knife” and “Coffins,” or the bluesy disco of “Heat” or the straight up funk groove of “Wooden Ghost,” these six songs prove that Explode Into Colors are a band that would have and could have done great things. Aside from a self-released tour cassette and two different versions of songs on this record that appeared on a limited seven inch single included with the 12” version of Quilts, this is it. But it’s a fine “it” to leave.