Dusty Lucite - Plastron

Dusty Lucite

Plastron
self-released; 2016

​3.8 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

An electronic indie band from Portland, Oregon, Dusty Lucite is led by frontwoman H. L. Stratton-Kuhta, who used current events as inspiration for the band’s debut release in 2016. Entitled Plastron, this album explores poignant truths through enjoyable, approachable and unique musical style.

The album begins with “B.F. Dent” with tribal-esque electronic beats and rhythms laying the foundation for the song. Warbly guitars and layered vocals complete the soundscape as the tune progresses through unconventional chord changes and nontraditional melody choices. Delving even deeper into the experimental realm, “The Pyrite King” features droning vocals, screaming guitars and jarring percussion that coalesce as Stratton-Kuhta sings about the power of an effective con.

The energy mellows out in “7up” as a catchy drumbeat repeats over pulsing guitars and bass notes, and soft lyrics. Following is “Cooler Heads” a similarly constructed piece whose crescendoing trajectory provides the perfect bridge into “Pangs & Schisms” a mostly laid-back track that is peppered with steady guitar strumming and throbbing synthesizer notes making for a totally immersive listening experience.

“Christina’s World ‘48” highlights the ability of Dusty Lucite to introduce variety and personality into its music, and even as the song changes and alters its feel constantly, there persists a common theme and aura that characterizes the band’s style. This trend continues in “Dermatillomania” as creative electronic percussion, synthesizers, and vocal art, each interesting on their own, come together to form a cohesive whole. 

​The album ends with “Adult Coloring Book” a song written in response to the recent election held in America. The song is solemn and subdued, yet maintains a feeling of hope and calm despite the uncertainty. As a whole, Plastron is a new approach to the ever-widening field of electronic music, and Dusty Lucite has done well in securing their place among this genre’s successful and intriguing artists.

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