Thousand Words

iTunes Review

Following up The Thao and Justin Powers Sessions with an all instrumental collection is a good move for hip classicalists the Portland Cello Project. Not only does it remind us of the group’s roots (let’s face it, the cello is not a historically “rock” instrument) but it also takes them outside the indie-folk/pop genre, while making for some incredible listening. They still forge interesting partnerships, this time with artists like Rachel Blumberg (a percussionist/singer who has worked with the Decemberists and Bright Eyes, she composed the three “The Dream” tracks here), Paul Desmond (composer of jazz classic “Take 5”), and the late indie pop artist Elliott Smith (they cover Smith’s “Taking a Fall”). However, there is a definite classical flavor throughout — their take on Gabriel Faure’s “Elegie” feels contemporary and exciting — even on oddities like their cover of a song from the XBox game “Halo.” Pairing cellos with New York beat-boxer Adam Matta on “Hard” is bizarrely satisfying, and we’d be remiss not to mention the stunning beauty of opening track “Denmark,” penned by PCP member Gideon Freudmann.