`Of
Montreal' is an American Indie Pop band created by Kevin Barnes.
They have exploded into an internationally renowned act from their
initial cult beginnings and this can be attributed to their hectic
live schedule which has seen them perform across the world. `Icons,
Abstract Thee' is the companion piece to Of Montreal's full length,
`Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer', and offers 5 more cuts
from the `Hissing Fauna' sessions. What is unique about `Of Montreal'
is that Kevin Barnes is `Of Montreal'. Barnes recorded the parent
album of `Icons....' as a one man operation in a tiny Norwegian
bedroom and an Attic in Athens, Georgia.
`Icons, Abstract
Thee' is a 20 minute excursion into the twee indie-dance-pop world
of Barnes, where kooky instrumentation brings the cover-art to
life by painting a multi-dimensional, animation-esque soundscape
which is equally rich and vibrant. `Icons...' showcases a range
of stylistic mood-swings from Barnes and this results in poppy,
upbeat numbers like `Du Og Meg' which swiftly moves across a soundscape
which sounds like Belle & Sebastian doing a cover of a Beatles
cover by Queen. It also results in quasi-suicidal tracks like
`Derailments in a Place of Our Own' which starts with mournful
strings and downbeat synths and then switches into strummed guitar
strings and emotive softly sung vocals
Elsewhere,
Barnes drapes an air of gloom over the sparkling instrumentation
on the curiously titled `Voltaic Crusher/Undrum to Muted Da',
thus resulting in track which conjures up images of Grandaddy
versus Belle & Sebastian. `Miss Blonde Your Papa is Failing'
is one of the longer tracks on this CDEP and successfully showcases
a brooding slowcore American Psychedelica influence whilst the
epic 9 minute closer `No Conclusion' recalls the electro-pop majesty
of `The Sunlandic Twins' through utilising a high-tempo dance-pop
beat. Stylistically, the track morphs in several different directions
and is energised by highly charged and occasionally harmonised
vocals which recalls a host of 80's pop bands.
`Icons...'
demonstrates that it warrants an individual release however moments
of truly infectious hooks and melodies are few and far between.
`Icons...' requires repeated listens to uncover its full potential
but it recommended for fans of their albums rather than as an
introduction to `Of Montreal'.
For
fans of: Belle & Sebastian, Grandaddy
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