Portland-based alternative band Summer Houses’ debut album, Frantic Hearts, blends elements of nerd punk, grunge, and Dadaist/lounge-lizard funk into innovative, decidedly edgy music. There’s a raw, marvellous effrontery to Summer Houses’ sound, one that puts the band against the conventions of music with their visceral and visual explorations. As they disengage themselves from traditional expectations, they deliver an articulate musical philosophy that’s far from passive. Like a slap in the face, it cuts through the rodomontade and piffles. V13 caught up with guitarist/vocalist Hazel Sterling Clemente to discuss Frantic Hearts’ themes of isolation, the Portland music scene, and recording in the studio. What inspired your new album, Frantic Hearts? Hazel Sterling Clemente: “A lot of the pr...