Brooklyn’s MGMT made a bold career move with their 2010 sophomore album, Congratulations. Largely eschewing the addictive pop hooks and electro indie-rock characteristics of their breakout debut, Oracular Spectacular, their second full-length release delved into decidedly more challenging territory, with an ambitious psychedelic scope and elusiveness that alienated many fans of their debut. Nevertheless MGMT deserved credit for having the guts to pull such a surprising manoeuver, and while the results were mixed, Congratulations was a confident gimmick-free detour that revealed MGMT as a young band willing to take risks with their music.
This third, self-titled album doesn’t shift the compass as dramatically as the changes that occurred between the first two albums, but it’s an equally challenging yet more cohesive effort than its predecessor. Andrew VanWyngarden (vocals/guitars) and Ben Goldwasser (synths/samples) sound far more comfortable in their psychedelic bubble, crafting a strange yet compelling album filled with kooky electronic blips and whirls, gentle guitars and jittery beats, coalesced with bursts of colour and synthesizers. Whereas the last album confused and engaged in almost equal measure, this time the band has found their song-writing mojo, with nearly every track offering something distinctive and interesting without repeating themselves or meandering off course.
The oddball ‘Alien Days’ flutters and glides in a dreamily weird fashion, complimented by some lilting female backing vocals and harmonising. Those searching for a return to the pop-infused electro sounds from the debut will be running for the hills after tuning in to this strong yet bizarre opening number. MGMT achieve the impressive feat of frequently changing-up the song-writing pattern and exploring vast territory musically without sounding disjointed, a criticism that could be justifiably aimed at Congratulations. A certain mark of restraint, and common threads in vibe and atmosphere keep the album grounded, ensuring the band keep a firm grip on the reins without compromising the experimental flourishes and stranger traits of their evolved sound.
‘Mystery Disease’ is an absorbing piece of melancholic electro with a genuinely haunting tone offset by a livelier percussive backdrop. The song smacks of emotion and maturity, adding a darker shade to the kaleidoscopic colour of the album. The upbeat pop of ‘Introspection’ follows promptly, bringing a jittery drum beat and throbbing bassline, overlayed by an infectious jangle and some of the catchiest vocal melodies the duo has crafted since their debut.
‘Your Life Is A Lie’ is a similarly upbeat and catchy slice of 70’s tinged electronic-pop, before a quiet ambient intro develops into the scattered space-age warp of ‘A Good Sadness’. This is another unpredictable shift from the relatively straight-forward nature of the poppy pair of tracks that preceded it, and it works a treat. It’s a tad repetitive but ‘Plenty of Girls in the Sea’ has ‘hit’ potential written all over it, floating on aquatic waves of sound and Beatles-esque vocal melodies. Closing track ‘An Orphan of Fortune’ coasts by on chilled-out psychedelic soundscapes and gentle vocal melodies, ending the album on a serene and relaxing note.
Listeners’ turned off by MGMT’s song-writing shift on Congratulations won’t find anything on this latest album to bring them back to the fold. On the flipside, those who persevered through the challenges of the inconsistent Congratulations will be rewarded by the complex psychedelic wonders and dreamy journey of this assured third album.
8/10
Reviewer: Luke Saunders