Various Artists, Mt. Portland (Self-Released)

More open studio session than mere compilation, there's no shortage of strange samplings here.

[COMP ROCK] The regional compilation can be a dubious undertaking. It typically runs the risk of overestimating the potential broad appeal of its scene's subtle charm. But Mt. Portland is more a recording project, by Portland's Buzz or Howl Studios, wherein contributions were made via a free, onsite recording session from house engineer and owner Stan Wright. Since the influx of creative types to Portland over the last several years has made transplant-composed art-rock bands ever more prevalent, there's no shortage of delightfully strange samplings here. Ah God's sunny, pseudoephedrine haze "Diddy" is a stoned and steady standout, opening a playlist that never lags. Candace's "These Days" could have been a Buzz Bin hit from early-'90s MTV. Minden offers up "The Promise," a funky, hook-laden disco groove, and Mascaras' "Kiksadi" is an instrumental psychedelic stomp with a rhythm section so relentless your arms get tired from just listening. Amazingly, there's not a single weak link here, a credit to Wright's ability to deftly capture the vast expanse of genres. If the message from the top of Mt. Portland is that we're keeping it weird so well that we're literally giving it away gratis, then Wright can expect the waitlist for a session at Buzz or Howl to grow exponentially.

SEE IT: The Mt. Portland release party is at Rontoms, 600 E Burnside St., with And And And, Joel Magid, Candace, Boone Howard and Michael Finn Duo, on Sunday, Feb. 28. 7:30 pm. Free. 21+.

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