Tempest Vs If My Hands Shake

Portland | Hank Stram
Even though it was a cd release show for two projects, I only saw one. The Misadventures of Two played and may have been good, I can’t really say. What I can say, is the one man act of Quiet Countries was boring. Slow wind up and slow middle with a climax that was again, slow. I don’t know if the contrast between these blinking high action arcade games and Leb Borgerson’s (Quiet Countries) were meant to highlight the differences? But it didn’t. The shooting, the bleeping and noise coming from pinball machines and video games of Ground Kontrol only drowned out the show and ultimately the effect.

I like Quiet Countries. I love video games. But they’re not peanut butter and chocolate. The more meloncholy and contemplative sounds of Quiet Countries were out of place in the casino atmosphere of Ground Kontrol. With lots of knob turning and button pushing the performance slowly came alive and by ‘alive’ I mean awake.

The ‘No one makes a noise’ cd is even paced with great mixes of acoustic guitar sythnisizer layered vocals. Honestly, this is perfect afternoon music. Right after getting stoned and I’m sitting in my bean bag chair facing the window, listening to ‘World of 10000′ drooling in the sunlight. That’s where I’ve been all day, trying to write this review. My girlfriend hasn’t helped by replaying the cd over and over. But that’s why, (I’m laying on couch pillows on the porch in the sun) I’m in a good place to appreciate Quiet Countries and to imagine myself in Ground Kontrol in this condition, I would not be in a good place.

In his own third person words

Quiet Countries is the one man band of ex-Laserhawk drummer Leb Borgerson. Using his voice, a baritone guitar, two looping pedals, an MPC 1000, a Casio CZ 101 keyboard, various effects pedals, and a variety of musical styles, Leb creates lushly orchestrated, uniquely written songs. In 2003 Quiet Countries released a limited edition EP on Lucky Madison Records, consisting of early versions of songs from his live set, sound experiments, and fleshed-out improvisations. In February 2006 Quiet Countries debut full-length, “No One Makes a Sound” will come out on Lucky Madison. Recorded over two years and containing most of the music in the live set since late 2002, the album continues the mood and atmosphere of the EP but is a more fully realized version of the Quiet Countries sound.

Glitchy, pounding beats mix with swirling guitars, chiming glockenspiels, warm keyboards, and Leb’s eerie voice. Reverent organ tones blend with Japanese zithers, pianos and strange samples to create moody, but beautiful music. Although Leb plays most of the instruments on the album, two of the best tracks are products of collaboration; “A Wicked Word” features the considerable talents of Lisa Molinaro (violin and viola) and Kevin O’Connor (drums) from Talk Demonic, and Victor Paul Nash (vibes) from Point Juncture WA. The ode to paranoia that is “If My Hands Shake” featured the beautiful voices of The Quiet Country Singers: Lauren Finbraaten, Alan Singley, Liam Kenna (The Snuggle Ups), Emilie Strange (Junior Private Detective) and Victor Paul Nash (Point Juncture WA).

So after a few beers, this game of Tempest was too “Tempting”.