The Mercury Tree

The Mercury Tree is an experimental progressive rock band from Portland, Oregon. Formed in 2004 by Ben Spees as a solo project, the band evolved into a full-fledged group over time. Initially, Spees focused on creating dense, layered soundscapes, blending pop sensibilities with complex time signatures and unusual sounds. The band's lineup has included notable musicians such as Mike Byrne and Connor Reilly on drums, and Oliver Campbell on bass. In recent years, The Mercury Tree has explored microtonality, incorporating unique tuning systems into their music. This shift was significantly influenced by their collaboration with microtonal composer Igliashon Jones, who joined the band and contributed to albums like *Cryptic Tree* and *Spidermilk*. Their discography includes albums such as *Pterodactyls*, *Freeze in Phantom Form*, *Countenance*, *Permutations*, and *Spidermilk*, showcasing their evolving sound and experimental approach.

The Mercury Tree's music often features intricate layering, polyrhythms, and unconventional scales, drawing inspiration from bands like King Crimson and XTC. Their live performances have been well-received, particularly at festivals like SeaProg, where they showcased their microtonal compositions to enthusiastic audiences. The band's exploration of microtonality has set them apart in the progressive rock scene, making them one of the most interesting and innovative bands in the genre.