The Ancient Motorcade is the long awaited 3rd full length from Portland shape shifters, Quiet Countries. Over the last eight or so years, Quiet Countries has used both electronic and acoustic elements to craft it’s own brand of pop music. From the densely orchestrated and intricate compositions of their 2006 debut No One Makes a Sound (Lucky Madison Records) to the more playful and beat oriented songs from The Karate Williams Diaries (Central Service Records), the band has perfected a blend of manipulated sounds and harmonies, bending them into familiar forms and shapes. With their third album, The Ancient Motorcade, Quiet Countries move deeper into the realm of alternately shuffling beats and intoxicating melodies that they have been known to pack into their repertoire. Like No One Makes a Sound, themes of work, love and responsibility are explored, but The Ancient Motorcade finds Quiet Countries expanding their sound with complex layering, glitchy electronics and industrial beats. The album is polished off with reedy vocals and crystallized lyrics reflecting on struggle and redemption. From the opening eerie echoes and whispery tones of “In All Directions,” The Ancient Motorcade transitions from synth-pop jams like “Go To Bed” and “Almost Obscene,” to the contemplative, orchestrated ballads like “A War Waltz,” into the almost post-punk textures and electronic flourishes of songs like “Lucky Boy” and “Impressed.” Largely performed by Leb Borgerson, The Ancient Motorcade features appearances from Laura Gibson, Victor Paul Nash (Point Juncture, WA), Douglas Jenkins (Portland Cello Project), Andy Combs (Andy Combs and the Moth) and Gus Elg (Alan Singley and Pants Machine). Borgerson is also a member of Alan Singley and Pants Machine and The Headphone Party, and has done remixes for Portland acts like Reporter and Blue Cranes. Borgerson has also produced music for companies like Fuel TV and Arkham NW through his label and production company, the Imminent Music Co.