“This might something that you’d like to share at The Organ tomorrow” said yer man from SkinGraft Records; “The band Point Line Plane is reforming and will be playing their first shows in over twenty years with Dazzling Killmen” –
Let’s cut to the chase here and feed you the music…
Twenty odd years ago the lines of communication between here and there weren’t so open as they are now, some of us over here might need a bit of a history lesson about a band from over there that people from over there are getting rather excited about. Point Line Plane, from Portland, Oregon, in all honesty don’t mean that much to us, twenty odd years ago we were probably too busy getting excited about the next Scissormen gig or when brilliant bands that America knows nothing about like those Homage Freaks were next playing the Camden Falcon (actually that was probably a bit longer that twenty odd years ago). We were exploring things like Epitonic.com and finding little bits about bands like Drill For Absentee and yes, Point Line Plane…
Here’s what SkinGraft Records have to say…
“Legendary Synth/Punk Duo POINT LINE PLANE Reboots – Between 2002 and 2005 Portland synth/punk duo Point Line Plane played 150 shows across the US. Vocalist/keyboardist Joshua Blanchard (Major Hex) and drummer Nathan Carson (Witch Mountain) initially honed their near-telepathic live skills in destructively short 20-minute concert performances. By the time they’d derezzed, their discography included two studio albums, the soundtrack score for a documentary film about haunted houses, plus a slew of comp tracks and singles.
The band made its name by creating noise music with pop hooks. As electro continued to fizzle out and screamy dance-punk/neo-no wave enjoyed a brief spike of popularity, kids and college radio DJ’s took note of PLP’s eclectic and original style, often contrasting the sound to other innovators like Liars, Ex-Models, and Lightning Bolt. Actual comparisons were hard to draw, however; reviews in print and online found writers grasping for metaphors rather than listing influences.
Back in their heyday the band shared the stage with eclectic artists of the period including Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Khanate, The Presidents Of The USA, Thurston Moore, US Maple, various John Dwyer projects, various Animal Collective side-projects, Metal Urbain, Don Caballero, Oneida, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Master Musicians of Bukkake, Zombi, Melt Banana, Unsane, Daughters, High on Fire, YOB, (need we go on?)—a who’s who of experimental underground artists active during the early aughts. Their music charted at #1 on the influential KDVS station; John Peel played several tracks on his legendary show as well.
Following their self-titled debut album, Point Line Plane briefly expanded to a trio and joined the SKiN GRAFT Records roster for their sophomore album “Smoke Signals (2004)”. By the end of their tenure, they found their sound mired in grimmer pastures, more often reflective of restraint, tension, and drama. Repetition, hypnosis, psychedelia, paranoia, darkness—these ingredients combined to satisfy extreme noise enthusiasts with sophisticated sonic textures as well as fans of more classic, melodic songwriting.
Now, Point Line Plane is rebooting. 2026 will see the original duo resume activity after having powered down 22 years ago with a slate of Northwest gigs planned in support of their SKiN GRAFT Records labelmates Dazzling Killmen – plus a special appearance at the celebrated Caterwaul Fest!”
“I spent years playing church organ in the dark and cremating bodies for a living.” – Joshua Blanchard
“No-wave died when Brian Eno got to it.” – Nathan Carson
Here’s those dates with those dazzling people….
previously on these pages…
THE ORGAN 