While Sun Angle is a relatively new band, its three members have long been solo fixtures on the Portland music scene. Vocalist/guitarist Charlie Salas Humara is the one-man disco-funk machine Panther; bassist Marius Libman makes electro-pop as Copy; and drummer Papi Fimbres is best known for the electro-tropical of Paper/Upper/Cuts.



Together, the trio blend and meld their unique sensibilities into an amalgamation they call “Tropical Psych Phase Punk”. No matter the name, though, it’s an exhilarating blend they deliver with gusto and spontaneity on their debut record, Diamond Junk.

Produced by Menomena’s Danny Seim, the 11-track album is powered by a sense of dichotomy: the band abide to certain influences and a general cohesiveness while joyfully experimenting with sounds and approaches with nearly each new song.

“Raspberry” combines frenetic post-punk with the layered complexity of prog, resulting in a multi-headed beast of swirling guitar and clobbering drums moving at 1,000 mph. “Hypnic Jerk” is almost as frenzied, but Salas Humara’s random wails and higher-pitched harmonies add an air of effervescence to the ceaseless kinetic energy. The title track shifts the loud, pounding dynamic almost entirely, weaving in bits of funk and alt-country to emphasize a joyous groove over walls of dense sound.

Consider this punk rock for world music fans, and world music for the punks.

Diamond Junk hits stores on May 7th via New Moss Records. I support the band will be on tour this summer, beginning with a West Coast tour from late May to early June. Consult the full schedule below.

Sun Angle 2013 Tour Dates:

05/10 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios (album release party)

05/16 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey * #

05/17 – Olympia, WA – The Northern * %

05/18 – Tacoma, WA – The Dwell Hole *

05/30 – Eugene, OR – Luckey’s *

05/31 – Davis, CA – Sophia’s Thai Kitchen *

06/01 – Sacramento, CA – Bows & Arrows * ^

06/03 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Crepe Place *

06/04 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar *

06/05 – Santa Barbara, CA – Muddy Waters *

* = w/ And And And

# = w/ Night Train

% = w/ Camp Wisdom

^ = w/ Appetite