M.I.A. – Matangi
“Matangi,” M.I.A.’s fourth studio album, is one that’s almost impossible to view without the context of M.I.A.’s past career, her host of contentious public interactions and outspoken attitude. The album is just about as sporadic and bumpy as the past few years of her career, but somehow still impossibly cool.
“Matangi” is rife with dance tracks that changes gears without warning, going from trap to reggae and from sitar-based to electronic, percussion-heavy rhythms. M.I.A. drops spitfire verses, some that make you wonder why she is so revered, and others that remind you exactly why she is. One song that encapsulates this attitude is “Lights,” which definitely has elements of pop genius, but changes, and has you pulling a disbelieving brows-furrowed, headshake.
Undoubtedly, “Matangi” is the best stuff M.I.A. has released in years. Much like the artist, the album is irritating and awesome, confusing and unique, and fans will be relieved and stoked to throw this on at the first chance possible.
RIYL: Dizzee Rascal, The Weeknd, Major Lazer
-Clare Teeling, WVAU staff
Chris Garneau- Winter Games
Chris Garneau’s album “Winter Games” delivers a surprising mix of delicate vocals with a full and unique blend of instrumentation. The heaviness of Chris Garneau’s lyrics are built on the musicality of CJ Camerieri and Rob Moose, who played trumpet, french horn and keyboard violin for Bon Iver’s self titled album in addition to recording with Arcade Fire, The National and Grizzly Bear. Garneau writes about parental abandonment, sexual abuse, and family rejection with eerie falsettos similar to early Youth Lagoon, intertwined perfectly with the incredible arrangements of Camerieri and Moose. The vocals in the beginning of the album air on the side of Sufjan, and then transform into something more along the lines of Michael Angelakos’ synthy magic in Gossamer’s climax. Tracks like “Oh God” and “Our Man” wrap up the album in the best way- with a tinge of triumph to counter the heaviness of Garneau’s subject matter.
RIYL: Bon Iver, Perfume Genius, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, a touch of Youth Lagoon – Julia D’Amico, DISCOURSE on Wednesday at 2-3 p.m.
Ducktails – Wish Hotel
It all works out for Matt Mondanile. His last record “The Flower Lane” featured a lot of analog types of sounds and a few guitar effects, and the keys were usually electric pianos, nothing crazy. But here on “Wish Hotel”, Mondanile completely goes electronic with his guitar sounds, key sounds and vocal processing. Overall, the EP has a very jazzy vibe, like the loungey “Tie Die” and a song even called “Jazz.” A main difference though is that Mondanile performs many lengthy guitar solos, but it’s less about the notes he plays and more about how cool he makes them sound with effects. It all works for him though and Wish Hotel is a refreshing new EP that can hold over Real Estate fans until their new record.
RIYL: Toro Y Moi, Tame Impala, Real Estate – Drew Sher, Fur Sher on Friday at 4-6 p.m.
Glass Animals- Glass Animals EP
On their second EP, Oxford’s admittedly weird-minded quartet warps minimal sounds into trippy, highly addictive electronica. Smooth as ice vocals stream from Dave Barley’s mouth on opener “Psylla,” setting up the organic soul that Glass Animals so perfectly weaves with psychedelic synths throughout every song they’ve released. The most sensual track is “Black Mambo” like Massive Attack but with a more pronounced, moving rhythm. “Exxus” shakes with the deepest bass while closer “Woozy (Edited)” moves from dark soul to hip-hop sample amongst static and jazzy vibes. With influences like Radiohead, Animal Collective, Flying Lotus, Burial and the Oxford club scene, Glass Animals enters the music scene at a time when everyone sounds like everyone else. But they sure don’t.
RIYL: Massive Attack, Blue Hawaii, Flying Lotus
-Molly Pfeffer, Velvet Sessions on Tuesday at 6-8 p.m.
thescene@theeagloneline.com
