Loss of Life by MGMT–Album Review
Loss of Life by MGMT–Album Review
MGMT, the musical duo of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden emerged from the ivy-covered halls of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in the Aughts to early recognition and acclaim. Their Time To Pretend EP in 2005 and the full length Oracular Spectacular that followed one record deal and a couple years in 2007 later cemented their stamp on indie electronica. Not quite lo-fi, MGMT’s early sound
MGMT on Loss of Life has grown and matured tremendously in the nearly two decades since their time at Wesleyan.
was steadfastly bedroom pop: infectious retro keyboard grooves, delicate harmonies and side chain compression. The resulting sound defined a generation of tunes and dancefloor ear worms that last to the present day on lovingly curated playlists the world over.
The intervening years saw MGMT grow and evolve and make changes with their sound and musical direction. Opening act gigs and tours with Radiohead, Beck, Paul McCartney and appearances at stalwart festivals including Coachella, Tea in the Park, Bonnaroo, Firefly and Glastonbury followed. Giant live gigs aside, the band has also been seen on live television – notably Late Night with David Letterman and Conan O’Brien– and had their music featured in TV shows like Girls and Gossip Girl and several feature length films.
The purpose for all this background information is to make the point that from humble collegiate musical beginnings come great achievements. MGMT on Loss of Life has grown and matured tremendously in the nearly two decades since their time at Wesleyan. The new record is a refreshing and invigorating album full of musical nuggets, hooks and yes – more ear worms. It also has a two part song in the title track – which by some definitions qualifies Loss of Life as a concept album.
Curiously starting off with “Loss of Life (Part 2)” the song’s twin “Loss of Life closes out the record. The first sound the listener hears is vinyl scratches as the intro. A distorted organ chord and a plaintive organ figure follow as the listener hears seemingly random vocal clips bopping around the stereo stage – sometimes doubled, sometimes through a flanger, often drenched in reverb. The cacophony grows and builds to a peak and suddenly ends with the sound of a vinyl record braking to a stop.
The stand out track in this writer’s opinion is the second song “Mother Nature” which is also the first single and features a music video directed by Jordan Fish. Minimal acoustic guitar over piano and a high and the same lonesome organ figure from the first track build to a peak and culminates in the soaring layered vocals and keyboards you’ve come to expect from MGMT. “Mother Nature” also features composer and guitarist Nels Cline of the band Wilco.
Jonah Freeman
Christine and the Queens appear on the excellent third track “Dancing in Babylon,” significantly the first-ever “feature” on an MGMT album, which also includes additional production supplied by Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) and Brian Burton (Danger Mouse). Delicate and close harmonies – like a take on the vocal duo Lucius – are backed by the requisite keyboards and 1980s ice bell sounds.
“Bubblegum Dog” starts like a Love & Rockets tune off one of their early albums with stabbing acoustic chords and also dogs whining in the background. The song also features the organ work of Sean Ono Lennon – specifically what sounds like a synthesized harpsichord. Slashing distorted guitar and a mellotron bring the song to its climax.
The start of “Nothing To Declare” brings to mind an Elliot Smith song that effortlessly evolves into something akin to a Father John Misty track. “I Wish I Was Joking” feels like the album’s homage to French band Air. If “I WIsh I Was Joking” was an homage then the closing track “Loss of Life” (presumably part 1) is a nod to Spiritualized – specifically the song “Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space.”
While the elements of previous MGMT records are present on Loss of LIfe – retro keyboards, dense and layered vocals and a solid beat, the feeling one gets is that of room – the sense of a large physical space. Gone are the keyboard collages and distorted and fractured vocals. Vocals here are clear and bright and up front like a proper pop record.
Was it the exposure to huge crowds or rubbing elbows with luminaries like Thom Yorke and former Beatles responsible for a new direction for MGMT? Who knows? The important thing to remember is that Loss of Life is a new and very refreshing sound and a return to form for the band and just in time for a summer full of their (newest) hits.
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