The recording project of
31Knots’ Joe Haege,
Chroma Key finds the math rock maestro flying solo into more electronic territories under his
Vin Blanc moniker. Recorded in part while Haege was on tour with his other bands, the album captures the wandering spirit of the road, with each song feeling like the snapshot of a single creative moment that was captured on tape before it could float out of the van window to be lost forever. The album is marked by this drifting feeling, as Haege shifts from style to style, not forcing whole genres on his songs so much as musical filters that add a slightly different touch to his diverse sound. While structurally the songs are not that unlike his work with
31Knots, the emphasis on synths and programmed drums gives
Chroma Key a more refined, polished feeling that allows the songwriter the opportunity to experiment with rhythm and tone in a way that’s more difficult when dealing with live instruments. This adds a level of precision to the skittering drums of songs like “Isn’t It a Pity” that allows the music to add layer after layer without ever going off the rails rhythmically as it delves down a reverb-filled sonic rabbit hole. These kinds of musical excursions help to not only showcase the talent that led to Haege working with bands
Menomena (filling in as a touring member), but also gives listeners a glimpse inside the mind of one the more interesting figures in the Portland music scene. ~ Gregory Heaney