This week we’re Dropping “These Two Trees,” a basement-crammed dance jam by Portland’s Panther. The band’s now a duo — breaking main man Charlie Salas-Humara added Joe Kelly, ex-31knots, whose live drums take the booty kicking up a notch. (The freshly minted twosome just completed a UK tour with the Gossip and heads out on a U.S. tour with Architecture In Helsinki on 10/10.)

Panther are currently putting together a new album to be released on Kill Rock Stars in February (working title 14kt God). Charlie and Joe recorded it themselves, with Christina Files mixing. “These Two Trees” is a raw, atmospheric demo of a track that’ll appear, in one form or another, on the album. Here’s Charlie on “These Two Trees”:

We recorded it in my basement studio this Spring. We used bongos, drums and a little circuit-bent keyboard my friend made for me — I wanted to make it sound like some of the old Cuban songs I heard growing up, but with a more burnt out dance hall vibe.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Puerto Rico and Chicago. Joe grew up in Milwaukee. We have midwest hearts.

What’re the lyrics about? Hard to catch them with all that echo.

Basically, take what you can from these trees. I am not a very political person in song, but it refers to the rape and deforestation of Oregon’s beautiful forests. I know, I know…