Of Montreal - Coquelicot Asleep In The Poppies: A Variety Of Whimsical Verse - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Newly signed to 4AD, Efterklang make their tag debut with Magic Chairs, their third full-length studio album on February 22nd 2010. Since 2000, the Copenhagen-based quartet (plus an ever evolving number of collaborators) have been quietly honing their craft, fusing left-of-centre electronic beats with grand orchestral gestures. Self-sufficient by nature and necessity, the band have until now, always written, recorded and produced every element of their music from the comfort of their Copenhagen bunker. In this time, they have also released records through their own Rumraket tag, working with the likes of Grizzly Bear, amiina and Slaraffenland also. So far, the results have been nothing short of revelatory; in particular, 2007's hugely ambitious Parades, an album that was difficult to define but even harder to fault, it raised their profile enormously and with Magic Chairs, they continue their evolution, exploring previously unchartered territory. Taking inspiration from the great purveyors of rock and pop music who reveled in the joys of a simple pop melody, Efterklang set about stripping back their own music to it's basic core, road-testing new tracks at live shows before committing them to tape. Like everything else, the recording process was also to be a brand new experience and unlike the lengthy gestation of Parades, recording for Magic Chairs was a relatively brief and straightforward business. Removing themselves from their home city and heading to Aarhus' Feedback Recording Studio, the band recorded basic tracks as a band (drums, bass, guitars and piano), replicating the live set-up from where the songs had initially taken form. Later, back in Copenhagen, orchestral flourishes were added and guest musicians were called upon (including their touring band members - Peter Broderick, Heather W. Broderick, Frederik Teige and Daniel James). for even greater clarity

Of Montreal's major voice Kevin Barnes has unparalleled talent to write lyrics that double as relatable adult situations and children's fable. This trend continues on Coquelicot Asleep In The Poppies. While there are come similarities to their previous efforts Bedside Drama and The Gay Parade, Coquelicot is more ambitious in it's concept, arrangements, lyrics, and even artwork. As with other of Montreal albums, this one works as a concept, but the songs also stand on their own, which is even more impressive. Album Tracks 1. Good Morning Mr. Edminton 2. Peacock Parasols 3. Look at the Bell 4. An Introduction for Isabell 5. Let's Do Everything for the First Time Forever 6. Coquelicot's Tea Party 7. Rose Robert 8. It's a Very Starry Night 9. Mimi Merlot 10. Butterscotching Mr. Lynn 11. Coquelicot, Claude and Lecithin Dance Aboard the Ocean Liner 12. Go Call You Mine 13. The Events Leading Up to the Collapse of Detective Dullight 14. Penelope 15. A Dreamy Day of Dreaming of You 16. Hello from Inside a Shell 17. Lecithin's Tale of a Dna Experiment That Went Horribly Awry 18. It's Just So 19. The Frozen Island 20. Upon Settling on the Frozen Island, Lecithin Presents Claude and Coquelicot with His Animal Creations for Them to Approve or Reject 21. Let's Go for a Walk 22. The Hopeless Opus or the Great Battle of the Unfriendly Ridiculous

The brand new full-length from Of Montreal, PARALYTIC STALKS sees Kevin Barnes writing with a lyrical and musical direction that is infinitely more personal than anything he has written since 2007's HISSING FAUNA, ARE YOU THE DESTROYER? Each track feeds off the last in what seems a singular album-long movement that never allows you to rip your ears away. PARALYTIC STALKS at times resembles modern classical with it's intricate compositions while at others echoes of neo-prog, pseudo-country, and 60s pop. Album Tracks 1. Gelid Ascent 2. Spiteful Intervention 3. Dour Percentage 4. We Will Commit Wolf Murder 5. Malefic Dowery 6. Ye, Renew the Plaintiff 7. Wintered Debts 8. Exorcismic Breeding Knife 9. Authentic Pyrrhic Remission