Following recent excursions into 80s-inspired extended dance mixes (White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood), radio-minded dance-rock (Ur Fun), and more free-flowing, collage-like fusions of art rock, psychedelic pop, orchestra rock, and more (Freewave Lucifer fck), Of Montreals 19th studio LP, Lady on the Cusp, hews closer to the latter. Having said that, on the whole, its a hornier, sassier, funkier edition of the project that cites R&B legends Hot Chocolate as an inspiration (along with Saul Williams and the novels of Ursula K. Le Guin) for the song "Soporific Cell." That tracks mix of seductive falsetto and verbose, harmonized patter, Rundgren-esque chord progressions and piano, spacy neo-disco, and Shaft-like playfulness provide a memorable moment at the halfway point of the album. Before that, "Music Hurts the Head" wraps lines like "Rock & roll is dead/Thats why its cool" in an arty, meandering, psychedelic space rock, the whimsically nightmarish "2 Depressed 2 Fuck" maunders in a stew of sound effects and haze, and the surprisingly (for 2020s Of Montreal) folk-rock-minded "Rude Girl on Rotation," while more straightforward and easy on the ears, still touches on uncensored sex. Likewise, the second half of the album includes diversions into loungey cabaret pop ("I Can Read Smoke") and a vague sophisti-pop ("Sea Mines That Mr. Gone") -- saxophone solo by JoJo Glidewell included -- beside more undefinable Kevin Barnes creations that combine synths, attention-demanding basslines, cartoonish effects, and spiraling musical modes. (That appearance by frequent associate Glidewell is only one of two guest spots here, the other being drums and percussion by Clayton Rychlik on "Soporific Cell.") The album was created during a time of transition for Barnes and partner Christina Schneider (Locate S,1), who, after decades in Athens, Georgia, left for the wintry climates of Vermont. ~ Marcy Donelson
Rovi
Following recent excursions into 80s-inspired extended dance mixes (White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood), radio-minded dance-rock (Ur Fun), and more free-flowing, collage-like fusions of art rock, psychedelic pop, orchestra rock, and more (Freewave Lucifer fck), Of Montreals 19th studio LP, Lady on the Cusp, hews closer to the latter. Having said that, on the whole, its a hornier, sassier, funkier edition of the project that cites R&B legends Hot Chocolate as an inspiration (along with Saul Williams and the novels of Ursula K. Le Guin) for the song "Soporific Cell." That tracks mix of seductive falsetto and verbose, harmonized patter, Rundgren-esque chord progressions and piano, spacy neo-disco, and Shaft-like playfulness provide a memorable moment at the halfway point of the album. Before that, though, "Music Hurts the Head" wraps lines like "Rock & roll is dead/Thats why its cool" in an arty, meandering, psychedelic space rock, the whimsically nightmarish "2 Depressed 2 Fuck" maunders in a stew of sound effects and haze, and the surprisingly (for 2020s Of Montreal) folk-rock-minded "Rude Girl on Rotation," while more straightforward and easy on the ears, still touches on uncensored sex. Likewise, the second half of the album includes diversions into loungey cabaret pop ("I Can Read Smoke") and a vague sophisti-pop ("Sea Mines That Mr. Gone") -- saxophone solo by JoJo Glidewell included -- beside more undefinable Kevin Barnes creations that combine synths, attention-demanding basslines, cartoonish effects, and spiraling musical modes. (That appearance by frequent associate Glidewell is only one of two guest spots here, the other being drums and percussion by Clayton Rychlik on "Soporific Cell.") If its possible to be fun and tedious at the same time, Lady on the Cusp fits the bill. The album was created during a time of transition for Barnes and partner Christina Schneider (Locate S,1), who, after decades in Athens, Georgia, left for the wintry climates of Vermont. ~ Marcy Donelson
Rovi