Portland Cello Project: The Thao & Justin Power Sessions
(Kill Rock Stars)
The name of the Portland Cello Project tells you much of what you need to know about them; additionally, the number of cellists ranges from eight to sixteen, and their repertoire can include anything from classical pieces to video-game themes. Their latest includes four collaborations apiece with Justin Power and Thao Nguyen, and may the only album you’ll hear this year incorporating compositions from both John Tavener and Pantera. But for all that, it coheres remarkably well, with the only jarring moment coming from the inclusion of the tango “Por Una Cabeza,� tonally more upbeat and ultimately too familiar relative to the rest of the album. It’s the unexpected or unanticipated where the Project excels; it also doesn’t hurt that Nguyen and Power have a likeminded approach to songwriting, each of which lends itself well to the rich, textured sound of bows drawn across strings.