Portraits Release Their Highly Anticipated Debut Album, “Buy High”
By: Chris Buxton IG: @chrisbuxtonllg
LA-based instrumental duo, Portaits, are what you need in your rotation. Comprised of guitar savants Joseph Anidjar and Joshua De La Victoria, the band has formed a dedicated fanbase with their innate ability to create progressive hits that take you on a sonic journey of discovery. The duo has left me speechless with their discography and they continue to impress. After catching my attention with their single “Drip” earlier this year, I knew they had the “IT” factor. Now, the deliver their highly anticipated debut album “Buy High”.
“Buy High” is an ambitious and daring album that I consider to be a musical masterpiece. The album is carried by catchy songwriting, earworm hooks, engaging instrumentation from studio bassist Jacob Umansky and drummer Troy Wright. With vocal contributions from Gabriel Levi & Michael Lessard (The Contortionist), the singers provide the cherry on top for the production duo’s innovative soundscape. Aesthetically & sonically, I fell in love with this album. It’s a refreshing body of work that truly pushes the boundaries.
When looking at the 9-track, I found it to be very cohesive and intentional. Although I enjoyed the full album, my personal favorites were “Buy High”, “Drip”, & “Negative Space”. “Buy High” has a nostalgic touch with it’s 80s esque chorus and traditional arrangement. In addition, it features vocals from the talented Gabriel Levi. This is what the band said about the song:
“When we wrote this song, we wanted it to have a feel good 80es chorus sort of vibe and a more traditional arrangement. We wanted to subvert the expectation of the listener who is expecting this release to be a regular instrumental prog album. Having our friend Gabe Levi feature on vocals was a huge addition to this track.” – Joseph
“Drip” has some of the best production on the album. I loved the guitar riffs, the percussion, and the sonic progression was exceptional.
“‘Drip” is a song I wrote before Portraits was a thing in a manic episode after a pipe burst in my room. I had to move all my equipment to another room and that sparked enough creativity to make this song happen in a few days. When I brought this to Josh, I told him to make a couple of the sections his own and what he wrote really brought the composition together. Specially that solo section in the middle.” – Joseph
“Negative Space” is laced with multiple rhythm and chord changes that will have you hooked from start to finish. From start to finish I was completely hooked. Overall, this album is one of the most impressive instrumental albums I have heard. Drawing instrumentation from life and incorporating their talented friends, Portraits released an album that is unique and timeless. Stream it below and vibe out!
