Fontanelle

Portland's Fontanelle formed in 1998, after the dissolution of Jessamine, guitarist Rex Ritter and keyboardist Andy Brown's previous band. The duo added a revolving lineup that included drummers Michael Faeth and Mat Morgan, keyboardists Paul Dickow (also of Emergency and Strategy) and Brian Foote (who, along with Morgan, is part of the IDM duo Nudge), and guitarist Charlie Smyth. The group's 2000 self-titled debut album was released by Kranky, Jessamine's old home; similarly, Fontanelle's subtle, percolating sound built on the direction of Jessamine's final album, Don't Stay Too Long. F. followed in spring 2001 and emphasized the group's electronic leanings. Things were extremely quiet on the Fontanelle front for many years as the group's players focused on different projects for the better part of the oughts. In 2012, a full decade since their last recorded material, an expanded version of the group resurfaced with Vitamin F, a new album steeped in the sound and style of early-'70s electric jazz-funk fusion.