Portland Return with Soaring Dreampop Anthem ‘Lay Me Down’
Dreampop collective Portland make a striking comeback with their latest release, Lay Me Down—a lush, atmospheric alt-pop gem that resonates just as powerfully as their breakout single Lucky Clover.
Lay Me Down drifts with a dreamlike fluidity, full of vivid sonic textures and sun-soaked melodies that hint at the approach of summer. The band’s signature harmonies bloom between the instrumentation, creating an immersive soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive. This latest offering stays true to the qualities that first set Portland apart, yet reflects a clear evolution—marked by emotional depth, quiet confidence, and an undiminished creative spirit. It’s a song that wears its sorrow openly but ultimately bursts with life-affirming energy. As the band puts it, “‘Lay Me Down’ wears the scars of recent years on its sleeves, but at the same time expresses an irrepressible zest for life.”
That tension—between melancholy and elation—runs throughout the track. The music is tender and aching, yet vibrant and electrifying, building toward a chorus that soars with cathartic release.
The journey to Lay Me Down was anything but easy. In 2023, frontman Jente Pironet received a devastating diagnosis: a brain tumour, with just a year to live. Instead of surrendering, he began a grueling path of recovery, driven by sheer will. The resilience and renewed perspective born from that battle pulse through the track. Pironet’s vocals carry a soft hope, matched by shimmering guitar work and an ebb-and-flow rhythm that swells into its anthemic peak.
Ahead of their June 6th show at London’s The Waiting Room—and following their recent win at the 2024 MIA (Belgian Music Industry Awards)—Portland’s return feels all the more poignant. Under close medical supervision, Pironet is back onstage, stronger and more focused than ever. With a third full-length album nearly complete, Lay Me Down offers a stirring preview of what’s to come: a vibrant, heartfelt chapter from a band that continues to defy the odds and create something beautiful in the process.
