Aureate Gloom
(Polyvinyl)
Of Montreal — which is not a band from Montreal, but from Athens, Georgia — taps into a distinctive, if monolithic aesthetic on its 13th album. Determining whether that stylistic unity is evidence of imaginitive shortcomings or of a singularly realized vision may come down to taste.
The elements are clear from the first song. The air in the studio where Kevin Barnes and band recorded seems to have been kept intact since the ’70s, at least if the polished production, instrumental timbres, and poppy vocals are an indication. A dance-y sense of rhythm and melody pervades the songs, and the vocals slide in and out in a multilayered sheen. The lyrics are often a cheeky counterpoint to the studio gloss — “You could join me there/ we’ll both be ugly failures” Barnes sings in “Monolithic Egress” — yet the album begins with a long and compelling song called “Bassem Sabry,” after the Egyptian journalist who died tragically last year.
There’s a hipster currency that seems to underpin Of Montreal, and at its best the band taps the nearly omnipresent sense of irony to create juxtapositions of sardonic mood and upbeat sound. The band veers from Kinks-heavy pop to ’70s danceability, and as the album continues, Of Montreal visits every corner of that carefully staked-out territory. Chances are it will wear a little thin before all is said and done, but there are enough well-crafted high points along the way to keep your ears attuned.•
