Being at Rontom’s to see The Ocean Floor last night was a bit…muffled. Kind of like being underwater. It was difficult to hear the band clearly, which was a shame. The Ocean Floor is one of the most eclectic Portland bands I’ve had the pleasure to come across. The four-piece sound like a cross between a beautiful jazz combo and the Muppet Show. It’s not a bad thing. It actually works quite well.

The Ocean Floor is led by Lane Barrington and features tinkling glockenspiels, reedy clarinets, singing violins and a huge stand up bass. The self-described “band geeks” bring a level of creativity to their performances, regularly switching instruments and sharing vocals.  They play songs full of complex melodies and Barrington’s silky vocals make them beautiful compositions in their own right.

Shannon Rose Steele- Vocals, Violin, Glockenspiel

Lane Barrington- Vocals, Guitar, Glockenspie

While the venue, Rontom’s, with its tree-filled décor and cozy ambiance, was amazing, it didn’t seem quite right for The Ocean Floor. I wanted to be in a quiet coffee shop or a place like the Schnitz, where I could fully appreciate their sound. It was simply too loud in there to hear The Ocean Floor in all its glory.

Holland Hunter Andrews- Clarinet, Vocals

William Skiles Wienert- Stand Up Bass

What I was able to hear was great. The video below is an amalgamation of three songs from The Ocean Floor’s latest album, Pop Quiz. The songs gel effortlessly, but I can see how they could also stand alone. That’s kind of how The Ocean Floor is- the members, all amazingly talented on their own, combine to form a lovely synergy. I’m looking forward to seeing them again soon, in a place more suited to their sounds, which must be approached with quiet reverence.

I absolutely encourage everyone to visit The Ocean Floor at their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/theoceanfloor . Also, go here to listen to “What’s The Dream” right now!