Portland-based indie quartet Point Juncture WA. has been crafting artfully surrealist chamber-pop that's been touted by indie critics around the region for years, though the band recently signed with Mt Fuji Records in Seattle.

But these days the PDX posse has developed a penchant for rap.

PJWA recently unveiled a pair of new hip-hop side projects at the house-party christening of their new home studio, converted from a two car garage in the back of a house quietly tucked into a neighborhood block.

Neither of the projects could be further removed from the sophisticated ambient-orchestral-dub-noise-dream-pop that fans might be accustomed to. There's no vibraphone or trumpet or even live drums. Both are turntable-and-microphone affairs.

Singer/drummer and multi-instrumentalist Amanda Spring raps under the handle Assisi as a duo with homegirl Nefertteti. And multi-instrumentalist and producer Skyler Norwood (Talkdemonic, Horse Feathers and Blind Pilot) gets busy as the grimy half of the Longwood Soul Review with Mark Liebman.

Live on the mic, Amanda was channeling ODB, drunken monk-tyle interrupting the DJ to stop the track and bring it back when she forgot her lyrics. And Skyler was getting his Ghostface on, singing smooth-but-rough over Hall and Oates samples.

I had the honor of opening the show with a hip-hop set (see photos by Jason Quigley in the pics panel) and along with Jordan Mayo (no relation). The night was legendary as far as house parties go. Very friendly circle of friends.

I managed to get some footage of LSR in action, check it out in the video panel, along with some live video of Point Juncture WA. performing "Stray Bear" from their latest "Heart To Elk" album.

And head over to the mp3 section on The Som Show front page to hear "Sioux Arrow," also from "Heart To Elk."