Montauk – ‘Montauk’
We have been privileged to hear and review the spell-binding, self-titled brand new album from Montauk. ‘Montauk’ is due for release on 23rd November 2018. The album is based on the characters and events from the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and crosses many genres as a piece of pure audio joy from beginning to end.
‘Montauk’ opens with the track, ‘Doom Dust’. It is a truly upbeat opening song which sets the tone beautifully. Positive in nature and chordal structure, the tune is catchy and will have you singing along all day. There are enchanting guitars galore to be heard building layers upon layers of texture and colour. The palm muted guitars set a solid foundation for other instruments to grow from and both the male and female vocals are magnificent.
We adored the track, ‘Hanging Baskets’ which opens with two acoustic guitars playing separate pieces. They dance around each other, always complimenting one another and never clashing. The harmonies add another luscious layer and the driving kick drum further elevates the song.
‘Heart Attack’ has a gorgeous groove throughout. It is a change in genre to what we have previously heard but is still undoubtedly Montauk. There are sublime 7th chords and mouthwateringly brilliant shredding guitar riffs in a welcome abundance.
We also loved ‘Eternal Sunshine’, the opening organ has a Tori Amos feel to it and the song itself reminds us of Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’. ‘I Won’t Wake Up With You’, seamlessly shifts genre again to a disco feel. The bass guitar is excellently performed and the double claps in the percussion section reminded us of Wham! Brilliantly nostalgic yet still innovative enough to be brought into 2018 by Montauk.
The vocals really do shine throughout ‘Montauk’. The lead singer Drew Richardson has a tone and delivery in his vocal performance which can not be taught. His natural gifts and talents shine through. ‘Fall in Love’ sees a divine breathy vocal performance. The addition of the female vocals (provided by the talented Rebecca Chambers), enhance the songs further.
We must mention the production on the album too. The mix, production, and mastering have all been executed to an extremely high standard. Each instrument has its own space in the mix to shine on its own but also, to enhance the overall sound. The drums especially sound punchy, bringing the sound to life. Blissful.
An album as good as this one really is a masterclass in songwriting and musicianship. Each element has been carefully crafted to fit perfectly into the puzzle. If you do one thing this November, make sure you check out this classic album!
Reviewed by FVReviews September 2018 Reviewed by FVReviews September 2018
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