Electronic music is so hip these days. And if you have an 80s sounding slant to it, even better. There is a niche audience (ahem, Brooklyn) that eats this shit up and I must admit some of it I enjoy (Late of the Pier). However, there is some I don't (any mash-up (fucking cannot stand the mash-up craze that Girl Talk started and don't get why it's "cool" to hear Nirvana and Mobb Deep together)). Amongst all the electronic releases last year, Boston band Passion Pit released a nice little EP entitled Chunk of Change and they immediately began to receive attention by press as well as the public.
Now, less than a year after that release, they have prepared a full length that continues where the EP left off. The band consists of live drums, a bass, and three people playing various keyboards. And the front "man" (use that term lightly (he has an extremely high voice)) handles all vocals and harmonies and it sounds damn good. The track "Let Your Love Grow Tall" in particular has Michael Angelakos harmonizing throughout the song's run.
Another trait the album has going for it is its mood; it is never dragging. Throughout the course of the album's 45ish minutes, it is hard to feel down while listening to it (unless you go into it just have learning your cat died or something). I mean there are two tracks with children singing on the chorus ("Little Secrets" and the aforementioned "Let Your Love..")! The third track ("Moth's Wings") has a more serious tone but it is immediately followed by the album's first single "The Reeling" which will soon be (if not already) dominating indie themed dance parties soon for it has a very "night out" feel to it.
(It's video also possess this attitude and is very arty (imagine an indie electronic band being arty!))
The next couple songs slow the album's tempo a little but not in a bad way. "Swimming in the Floods" sounds like it could have been a single for Duran Duran in 1984. Following these tracks you get a barrage of excellent tracks (one with hand claps, awesome) including a song which was actually used as a single on the band's EP ("Sleepyhead"). This trend of good songs continues through until the album's closer ("Seaweed Sea") which calms the listener down a little to end things.
Overall Passion Pit have released a nice little album that sounds definitely be checked out by anyone into this electronic phase (MGMT fans...). It is very catchy and just an enjoyable all around listen that doesn't require your full attention at all times to fully appreciate it. The band will also soon be embarking on a tour and I will be there checking it out in hopes of not getting bombarded by 17-year old Pitchfork readers (they have already voiced their approval of Passion Pit). Anyways, give the album a listen. Nice little effort.
4.0/5.0
Standout tracks: "The Reeling" "Little Secrets" "Eyes As Candles"
Click here for Passion Pit - Manners
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