The new record from Of Montreal opens with the lovely "Already Dreaming", a number which sounds like The Lemon Twigs. Of course, the D'Addario formed their band way after Kevin Barnes set out to make records as Of Montreal. And, as a matter of fact, aethermead, out this week, is the 20th Of Montreal record. It reminds again of this band's legacy, and how much those earlier efforts inspired contemporary acts.
But what of aethermead? The Yacht Rock-y of "Wanting on Air" is fairly engaging and may be a sign that Barnes has shelved the kind of annoying affectations that marred his 2024 effort. "Listen to Music and Cry" echoes Barnes' old Elephant 6 peers The Olivia Tremor Control and is one of the loveliest pieces here. Less hectic than some recent Of Montreal offerings, there are real pleasures to be had in parts of aethermead.
The more upbeat songs like "When" just don't work for me at all. I think when Kevin Barnes sticks to blissed out ballads like "Hack It Up", or ravhsing torch songs like "From the Font of You" that he's far more interesting to me. There's a weird tension in this new Of Monteral album between the songs where Kevin Barnes sounds like he's trying a little too hard, and where he seems so at ease on the more melodic, slower songs. And there are enough of those here to earn this one a recommendation from me.
aethermead by Of Montreal is out this week on Polyvinyl.
[Photo: Bảo Ngô]