When I received MGMT’S debut album to review I couldn’t contain my excitement, after hearing about them on the grapevine and catching them on Jools Holland, I was more than intrigued to listen to the whole record.

After getting the album at the back end of last week, it was inevitable that I would come across a couple of reviews from those already in hand of this little gem. A general consensus is that of a definite Flaming Lips-esque influence echoing in the background, no surprises then that David Fridmann (long time producer with The Flaming Lips) was in charge of the controls on this record.

Opening with Time To Pretend, which creates this wall of sound that allows you to get completely lost in the synthesizers wailings and the crashing drums. Everything about this track works! Weekend Wars is next up and it shows that MGMT aren’t afraid of experimentation, changing tempo throughout the track beautifully, all in the midst of a sixties shadow.

You could send yourself crazy listing all the influences being emitted from this album, emitted being the operative word as it sounds like a transmission to some other galaxy at times. From electro/synth pop to sixties nostalgia and an overwhelming psychedelic feel, although never feeling forced, 100% original (if that’s a possible in a “post-modern” era).

Electric Feel is the standout track for me, a funk track in an electro body rolled over from the 70s into the 80s! Can’t help but get you dancing though! Followed nicely by Kids, booming along with an abundance of energy, the vocals almost morphing into the music yet still audible and catchy as hell!!

Out in the states since January 2007, it’s a shame we’ve had to wait so long… but worth it tenfold!

Words by Joel Ross