Portland: 'Departures'

Melancholy dreampop

We know Portland as the magical musical alliance between Jente Pironet and Sarah Pepels. With their melancholy dreampop they have already conquered many hearts in the Benelux & France. They played on major stages such as Rock Werchter, Pukkelpop, and The Great Escape. As a finalist of Humo's Rock Rally and winner of the New Lichting 2018, they definitely broke through to the general public. Their debut album Your Colours Will Stain released in 2019 was critically acclaimed. 

In January 2022, the duo headed to the U.K. to can their latest album Departures. Producer Oliver Bayston (Boxed In) recorded the album toward a gem. 

The result is 12 dreamy indie songs on which Portland's sound evolves musically. The melodies and arrangements are complex, the songs to the point. Of that, singles "Sensational" and "Good Girls" are testament to that.

Painful twist: Sarah announced a few weeks before Departures' release that she was leaving the band. With that, the title takes on a literal meaning and Departures can join the list of break-up albums, following in the footsteps of For Emma, Forever Ago, Rumours or more recently and closer to home Warhaus' Ha Ha Heartbreak. 

For fans of: Beach House, Marble Sounds, I Am Oak, Isbells

An organization of Democrazy and Ha Concerts

Photo © Hana Knizova