OPB Music

The Dark, Lovely Sounds of the 1939 Ensemble

Video Premiere: 1939 Ensemble - 'Wolves'

by David Christensen opbmusic

On their new song “Wolves,” Portland’s 1939 Ensemble blur lines between rock and jazz with a flurry of interesting, contrasting textures.

Drummer Jose Medeles starts the song with a snare roll and a driving beat; David Coniglio layers on cool vibraphone in descending melodies; guitarist Knate Carter and Josh Thomas (keys) join in and push the song to a crackling, staccato ending. “Wolves” is a standout new track from the band’s latest album, “New Cinema,” released last month on Portland label Jealous Butcher Records.

In the new video directed by Gregg Hale, the song draws out a group of masked figures from the shadows like an incantation. Primitive meets edgy, the masked ones turn out to be children, and they eventually overtake the band members and mask them too.

https://www.opb.org/opbmusic/article/video-premiere-1939-ensemble-wolves/