Psychedelic rock indie outfit MGMT, comprised of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, stole the hearts of indie rock fans everywhere with their debut studio album “Oracular Spectacular” back in 2007. The project was a novel, fresh and groovy collection of cuts, such as the still popular “Time to Pretend” and “Electric Feel,” that defined MGMT as one of the most promising indie projects in recent memory. Since their debut, MGMT continues to push their creative efforts forward with every album sounding familiar and welcoming while keeping their ideas fresh. Their most recent project, “Little Dark Age,” released Feb. 9, does not break this pattern. The record is chock full of MGMT’s usual personality and charm while taking sonic inspiration from the grungy, synth heavy sounds of the ‘80s new wave movement.
Best cuts
The intro track “She Works Out Too Much” is a fitting kickoff to the record that sets the tone exceptionally well. The instrumentation takes obvious inspiration from cheesy ‘80s aerobic workout videos complete with squeaky analog synths, sweeping keytar riffs, improvised horns and slightly vocoded vocal samples. The entire track is driven by a relentlessly energetic bass and percussion line that makes the cut infectiously fun and bouncy. The lyrics are equally amusing, detailing the singers distress and frustration in his relationship with a girl who is obsessed with working out and improving her image. The writing is rife with clever puns and metaphors such as the singer’s character relating his routine of keeping up with indulging his girlfriend on social media with the overall theme of a workout routine.
“Me and Michael” is another great cut that sounds like it would be best suited for play at an ‘80s high school dance. The instrumentation is an amalgamation of syrupy and nostalgic synth chimes with a heavy, chugging bassline and crisp snares. The echoed vocals and consistent thumping melody evoke feelings of longing and a tinge of melancholy which gives the whole track a very dramatic and atmospheric aesthetic. Perfect for a prom slow dance bathed in neon pink and blue lights.
The title track “Little Dark Age” is a dark and brooding, bass-heavy ode to ‘80s goth anthems. The serrated and distorted bass synths give some texture to the eerie and wispy modulated horror movie strings. The bridges of the song feature some captivating electronic organ melodies that tie everything together with the clean cut chorus structures and modulated vocals.
MGMT is a duo that is highly adaptable and aware of what is creatively appealing to them at each stage of their career. “Little Dark Age” is a love letter to the catchy and unmistakable club sound of the 1980s that also incorporates their own unique sense of modern lyricism and song structure. The album is both nostalgic and refreshing, bringing a unique take on thematic indie pop to early 2018. The success of the project is a testament to how much fans of the genre appreciate the callbacks to classics of previous time periods as well as their continued support of experimentation in the genre moving forward. Only time will tell what aesthetic influences MGMT will take their creativity from in the future.
Other great cuts
“One Thing Left to Try,” “TSLAMP,” “James”
