New Music: J. Graves – Mad

Portland, Oregon trio J. Graves – Aaron MacDonald on drums, Kelly Clifton on bass, and Jessa Graves on guitar and vocals – bring a dark and sometimes danceable aspect to the experimental post-punk tones of Mad.

The track is from their Fortress of Fun album which was released last month and draws together multiple strands of alternative sounds to weave a finely woven sonic experience. Graves’ vocals feel as if they were born in a furnace of angst – a sensibility that grows as the track builds on its initial post-punk sound. Fans of Future Islands will find the album of special interest.

Drawing in elements of post-rock and the darker, almost primal sounds of Nick Cave and Patti Smith, it all makes for a vibrant, haunting, but vivid listening experience. Though the song does succeed in its own right, you really should listen to the album, inspired by a choose-your-own-adventure book the band discovered, to appreciate the beauty of Mad in its proper context.

Fortress of Fun by J. Graves

Fortress of Fun by J. Graves can be purchased on Bandcamp in vinyl, CD, and digital formats. Mad can also be streamed on Apple Music, Deezer, and all major digital platforms.

You can find out more about the band by heading over to their website, or social media accounts, which include Facebook and Instagram.