we had the honor to hang out with James Dineen at his studio in south east portland on a hot September night. Sessions From The Box is not just a clever name, we really played in a box! the control room was cozy and James helped us feel right at home.
give it a listen at www.sessionsfromthebox.com/sessions/

love,
westfold

if this is priceless then even better.

atrophy shadowing a long drive through Oregon back roads
clutching cloak
skipping stones
i can distinctly hear your laughter in my dream
like a pleasantly haunted reality
i can only find in sleep.

we've spent the past 4 days in the recording studio known as Toadhouse. waking up at the butt crack of noon, we'd meet the vigilant Adam Pike under the east side Morrison bridge. the dark circles under my eyes feel strange not having to go there today. we finished tracking the songs yesterday. what a fine day it was too. simon and i got to sing into a telephone! the real icing on the cake was the group vocals from our good friends Dio McLeod and Aristeia boys - Adam Steinfink and Brandon Gordon. i know it don't make much sense to ask a post-rock band to sing on a record but wait till you hear them on our new song "Steady State". the recording truly captures the mood, feelings and despair of this Portland summer. should be mixed soon. you will be the 1st to know!


love,
westfold

we've written a new set and are excited to play again. our next show is at THE KNOW in portland,or on june 8th. sometimes when we focus on new material, old stuff falls away and dies. if there are any songs that are your favorite, please let us know. now is your chance to list them and help motivate us to break through the rust.

see you soon,
westfold

this is a brand new song that we played for the 1st time at Kelly's Olympian in Portland,OR 02/07/09. enjoy!



video courtesy of Alia Aruta. 

01/14/09 Rotture, 315 SE 3rd  9pm

The careful, deliberate rock of Westfold makes full use of an expansively big canvas, like a mural that takes up the entire wall of a room. The band unhurriedly metes out portions of post-rock, indie pop, baroque prog, and radio-friendly metallic fuzzrock to concoct slow potboilers with lots of legroom. Aristeia is similarly ponderous, but instead of painting the wall, they open a window onto a broad vista of instrumental flight through mountains and valleys. Carcrashlander makes darkly melodic pop of the interior variety; pianist/songwriter Cory Gray inhabits a headspace of affecting analysis, and his marvelous songs trudge through the emotional turmoil of everyday life while pinning their hopes on transcendence. NL

* 01/08/09 edition of the Portland Mercury

Wed 12 Nov 2008
Westfold: Morning Commute [Album Review]

Posted by admin under Album Reviews, Albums: W

Written by Ron Trembath

Westfold serves as a prime example of "contemporary" in the most literal sense on their second EP, Morning Commute. Using their classic antidote of happy despair, Westfold manages to create something bold and original, using a template that is faded and worn. It is always a pleasure to hear from a group that is not scared of imaginary boundaries, but doesn't forget their beginnings.

Only on "Formerly Known As Tremors" does Westfold return to the aggressive folk melodies of their first EP, No Frills Catalyst. The remaining cuts take you through a tour of grated grunge with touches of the indie new wave that has become such a strong hold in their hometown of Portland, OR. Tracks like "Effervescent Melody" and "Mousetrap" appear more organized and provide a full bodied sound. But "Modern World: The Glass Slipper" acts as an avante garde display of hysteria; yet somehow it blends perfectly with Morning Commute's preceding songs.

For long time Westfold fans, Morning Commute will be a delight simply because the band decided to experiment but never lost their true essence of denying melodic transparency. For those just tuning in, this album is exactly what you will continue to recognize as the sound of Westfold in the time to come. Indie rock has always been desperate for a sound such as this. Therefore, I am willing to bet it shall never fade completely.

[CDEP, 2008]

*this review can be found at Fensepost. com.

Evy Metal interviewed us this summer for her recurring podcast and website that features local Portland bands. say hello to Evy and add her as a friend. enjoy!
The interview is now available to listen to at her website:

http://www. evymetal. com/

Do you trust the mind over the heart?
The heart over the wallet?
The wallet over the stomach?
The stomach over silver hair?

CD Review: Westfold "No Frills Catalyst"
Written by Ron Trembath

Westfold's first album is short but filled to the brim with desire. With each strum, the struggle to become worthy musicians is more than evident. It is absolutely necessary to understand their sound and appearance. The power to please is not noticeable, but obvious in some contexts of the music industry. If the sounds of "No Frills Catalyst" do not seem as erupted as their recent work, it is only because it is only the work of half the band. Mark Palumbo and Tony Reyes were only two deep with this work. And if this album were to be a jump start to what is to become, the world will not be ready for the insanity and genius that will be Westfold.


At times the album seems to be pulling in obscure references to band like Sun Kil Moon, but then revert back to the pop stylings of The Killers. But no real influence can be created. It's true indie rock to the core. Suppression of real emotion through metaphors. A design built on irony and sarcasm for their own amusement. Each track holds tight to the upmost superiority and honesty. While the tracks "Dante's Ditty" and "Truth About Wildfires" could make any hipster chick dance until her nose ring falls out, the rest of the tracks lead you into a melodramatic fantasy of acoustic goodness. "Take 4 U Keep" and "What Really Happened" spin into an oblivion of sadness that almost doesn't make sense. This doesn't take away from the Dylan-esque feel, but it tends to be very misleading between the marelibreum that is the more uplifting tracks. Though styles may differ, it's not hard to compare "No Frills Catalyst" to the later work of the great Robert Zimmerman. Especially his album "Oh Mercy". Once you have heard the album, tell me that "Shapeshifter" wouldn't fit well into such a classic line up of tracks.

Westfold as been completely revived and renewed since "No Frills Catalyst". With the addition of Dustin Mills on drums, and Simon Carillo on guitar, the future holds no bar. The reverence of this talented group of individuals shines amongst the street lights of rebellion that is Portland Oregon. In such times where a region is thriving once again, Westfold acts as a beautiful counter act to the career dangerous "theme rock" that is plaguing the city of roses. Originality seems to fade as dangerous dollar signs form in the eyes of any musician 18 - 26 sits in any coffee shop in any neighborhood in this Northwest paradise. A band like Westfold is that sort of "tell it like it is" band that we need to see more of in times like these. Tremendous effort was put into this freshman debut, and should that effort continue, only good things are to come.

Redcrown Review