An interesting side effect of the growth of the Northwest independent music scene is the increase in the number of "power duos," two- person bands like The Spinanes and godheadSilo, that take the concept of a "stripped- down sound" one step further. In a way, minimizing personnel is actually keeping in step with the less- is- more aesthetic that's the oft- forgotten basis of pop music. Certainly, that's the case with 764-HERO; singer/ guitarist John Atkins used to be in Hush Harbor, a trio whose attempts at Low- like minimalism with overly emotive vocals came off as a bit sterile. Teamed with drummer Polly Johnson, Atkins turned up the distortion and developed a guitar technique similar to that of the Spinanes' Rebecca Gates-- so layered and full- sounding it's hard to believe that there's just one guitar.

We're Solids is just the right length (seven songs in under 20 minutes) to convey 764-HERO's impressive breadth of musical colors and emotions concisely. "Comb The Carpet" and "Wait Until Five" open the album with a one- two suckerpunch of riveting, seething anger, with Atkins' rough- edged growl and scraping guitar sounding like they're both caked with dirt. "Sunburnt" reveals 764-HERO's more melodic leanings; it's almost breezy and whimsical in parts, but still manages to resonate with resigned sadness. "Stutter Steps," an anguished acoustic tune, acts as a beautiful, exhausted coda to the album.

There's a lot of pain in 764-HERO's music, to be sure, but Atkins and Johnson are smart enough to never descend into painful high- school poetics. In fact, the lyrics on We're Solids are one of the more impressive parts of the album. Lines like "I'm drinking alone/ But at least I'm alone," "You're living life like you'd like to see it written down" and "Getting over it is overrated" repeat in my head long after the last track has ended. It may be short, but in We're Solids 764-HERO has crafted a sweet little package of depression, desperation and hope.

-Nick Mirov