Album: MGMT, Oracular Spectacular (Columbia)

Andy Gill
Thursday 06 March 2008 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Formerly known as The Management, the Brooklyn duo of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden deal in what they call "Future Seventies" music, by which one supposes they mean repossessing the sounds and styles of that decade within a loose fantasy/sci-fi framework.

That places them alongside American bands such as Midlake, Seventeen Evergreen, Olivia Tremor Control, Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev (whose producer Dave Fridmann oversaw Oracular Spectacular) – and particularly, in its Roxy-inspired blend of glam and psychedelia, our Klaxons. Reedy mellotron motifs and flamboyant keyboard glissandi embellish techno-funk grooves; prog-rock synth ostinatos undulate; organ and guitar circle each other in the wary manner of Pink Floyd.

The lyrical themes are soaked in Seventies concerns, with "Time To Pretend" offering a sardonic affirmation of the classic rock'n'roll lifestyle ("Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives", etc), and zeitgeist youth anthems "Kids" and "The Youth" both less appealing variants on the message of "All the Young Dudes".

Download this: 'Kids', 'Time to Pretend', 'Pieces of What', 'The Youth'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in