![Review: Of Montreal - Daughter of Cloud [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/2/6/3/2/9/of_montreal_cover.jpg)
![Review: Of Montreal - Daughter of Cloud [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F2%2F6%2F3%2F2%2F9%2Fof_montreal_cover.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
The band with the most confusing name for music reviews is back, with Of Montreal releasing a wealth of psychedelic back-catalogue numbers. The album might have the coolest artwork cover of the year, but it's for the Of Montreal fanatics out there, to everyone else it will probably feel like hearing a David Lynch film interpreted by an eight year old girl.
Daughter Of Cloud is actually a compilation of tracks from across the spectrum of the Georgia-based band's bizarre recording history ranging from their seminal album Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? to some of their more recent releases. But of the 17 tracks on this album, ten are previously unreleased, while the other seven were originally issued as limited edition releases.
http://soundcloud.com/polyvinyl-records/of-montreal-our-love-is-senile
It sounds like many of these tracks were left out for being 'a bit too weird', and when tracks are being left out on an Of Montreal album for being too weird, you know they're probably not going to be 'house party material'. But it's easy to see why Of Montreal have somewhat of a cult following, they give almost nothing away in their tracks, leaving them open to hours of interpretation by only the most devoted of fans.
At times the tracks can veer from mildly freaky synthedelic (you read it here first) techno-pop to a straight out bad acid trip. 'Hindlopp Stat' is a good example, diverting from any real melody a few minutes in only to wither into a confusing, monotonous mess. And the same could be said for 'Sails, Hermaphroditic,' but the underlying tune behind it would probably sound great if remixed to more commercial standards.
To be honest, listening to Daughter of Cloud was exhausting. There are tracks that glimmer with promise, 'Partizan Terminus' has so many things going for it (including sounding like a Flight of The Conchords number), but there are so many problems with its presentation. It's definitely going to appeal to those that enjoyed his previous work, but the only people that come to mind when you try to imagine a Daughter of Cloud fan are serial killers. I'm not saying all Of Montreal fans are serial killers, but it is not psychologically healthy if you consider this easy listening.
http://soundcloud.com/polyvinyl-records/of-montreal-sails
The second half of the album is definitely from the more musically mature side of Of Montreal's back-catalogue, with 'Feminine Effects' damn near making it up for all the gibberish before it. It's sweet, alt-country style is aided immeasurably by Rebecca Cash and her sultry drawl. There are several tracks that could pass for early tunes by The Shins, but guitarist and lead singer Kevin Barnes definitely has more of an ear for a tune, check out 'Tender Fax' for proof of that.
So while Daughter of Cloud is pretty limited in its range for new listeners, with a little patience you can find some real gems hidden in here. Like all Of Montreal releases, your enjoyment depends on your commitment just as much as it does on the music itself.
Daughter of Cloud is released October 23rd 2012 on Polyvinyl Record Co.
To find out more about the wacky world of Of Montreal, visit their Facebook here.
Daughter Of Cloud is actually a compilation of tracks from across the spectrum of the Georgia-based band's bizarre recording history ranging from their seminal album Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? to some of their more recent releases. But of the 17 tracks on this album, ten are previously unreleased, while the other seven were originally issued as limited edition releases.
LISTEN // 'Our Love is Senile'
http://soundcloud.com/polyvinyl-records/of-montreal-our-love-is-senile
It sounds like many of these tracks were left out for being 'a bit too weird', and when tracks are being left out on an Of Montreal album for being too weird, you know they're probably not going to be 'house party material'. But it's easy to see why Of Montreal have somewhat of a cult following, they give almost nothing away in their tracks, leaving them open to hours of interpretation by only the most devoted of fans.
At times the tracks can veer from mildly freaky synthedelic (you read it here first) techno-pop to a straight out bad acid trip. 'Hindlopp Stat' is a good example, diverting from any real melody a few minutes in only to wither into a confusing, monotonous mess. And the same could be said for 'Sails, Hermaphroditic,' but the underlying tune behind it would probably sound great if remixed to more commercial standards.
To be honest, listening to Daughter of Cloud was exhausting. There are tracks that glimmer with promise, 'Partizan Terminus' has so many things going for it (including sounding like a Flight of The Conchords number), but there are so many problems with its presentation. It's definitely going to appeal to those that enjoyed his previous work, but the only people that come to mind when you try to imagine a Daughter of Cloud fan are serial killers. I'm not saying all Of Montreal fans are serial killers, but it is not psychologically healthy if you consider this easy listening.
LISTEN // 'Sails, Hermaphroditic'
http://soundcloud.com/polyvinyl-records/of-montreal-sails
The second half of the album is definitely from the more musically mature side of Of Montreal's back-catalogue, with 'Feminine Effects' damn near making it up for all the gibberish before it. It's sweet, alt-country style is aided immeasurably by Rebecca Cash and her sultry drawl. There are several tracks that could pass for early tunes by The Shins, but guitarist and lead singer Kevin Barnes definitely has more of an ear for a tune, check out 'Tender Fax' for proof of that.
So while Daughter of Cloud is pretty limited in its range for new listeners, with a little patience you can find some real gems hidden in here. Like all Of Montreal releases, your enjoyment depends on your commitment just as much as it does on the music itself.
Daughter of Cloud is released October 23rd 2012 on Polyvinyl Record Co.
To find out more about the wacky world of Of Montreal, visit their Facebook here.
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