Blouse - Imperium (2013)

A Portland, Oregon trio crafting ethereal yet driving pop, Blouse feature Charlie Hilton, Patrick Adams, and Jacob Portrait (also the bassist for Unknown Mortal Orchestra). Hilton, whose aloof vocals give Blouse an otherworldly quality reminiscent of Broadcast or Beach House, met Adams in art school during the summer of 2010; after making a few home recordings together, they connected with Portrait and began laying down tracks in his warehouse studio. This version of the group posted some songs on its Bandcamp page, and by early 2011 was signed to the moody, Brooklyn-based label Captured Tracks. That year Blouse also released a slew of singles, including their debut 7" Into Black/Firestarter that March and the Sub Pop release Shadow that May. That November, Blouse's self-titled debut arrived, along with the singles Videotapes and Time Travel. The group returned to the studio in early 2013, ditching the synths that defined their first album in favor of cellos and distortion-laden guitars. The results, Imperium, were released that September.