Album Review

Passion Pit – Manners

• 18th May 2009

Watch out everyone, the latest ‘next big thing’ is about to land, and just in time to stake a claim for anthem of the summer.

Lazy comparisons with MGMT are inevitable, but are only useful in highlighting how much the hype that surrounded that band was unmerited. For Passion Pit’s ‘Manners’ is a well rounded album, full of cohesive variety, and provides a vivid demonstration of the kind of melodic range that the band command.

Even upon a casual first listen songs will leap out at you. ‘Little Secrets’ sounds like the best pop song The Knife never got around to writing. ‘Eyes as Candles’ and ‘Moths Wings’ capture a sort of folktronica whimsy within their cavernous electro pop structure, while ‘Fold in your Hands’ echoes of the best moments of Hot Chip’s ‘The Warning’, melded with MSTRKRFT’s knack for marrying a rock tune to classic dance synth backdrops.

Hopefully the preceding paragraph gives some indication that you can’t help but notice that there is so much going on throughout the album (upcoming single release ‘The Reeling’ is like a Matryoshka doll of musical layers); and yet the songs never feel crowded or distractingly chaotic. Michael Angelakos’ falsetto vocals lend a distinctiveness to the bands overall sound that greatly increases the appeal of their novel music. He is also adept at utilising pop tricks/tropes to great advantage, a tra-la-la sing along verse here, a kid’s choir accompaniment there, all of which enhances this albums enjoyment no end.

The pacing of songs towards the latter third of the album can be filed under the questionable category, and some songs may verge closer to pop cheesiness than pop genius for some peoples tastes. However, neither of these points detracts from the overall experience of this album.

Some may be dismayed that the charming low – fi aesthetic which typified ‘Chunk of Change’ has receded in priority with the inclusion of a full band sound. However, one need only listen to how ‘Sleepyhead’ is exceeded by many of the newer, heavyweight tracks to realise that this new album should be celebrated as a progression for the Passion Pit project.

While it’s debatable whether one can speak of true originality in pop music today this album offers a genuine ‘breath of fresh air’ sensation which this reviewer hasn’t felt since first hearing Arcade Fires ‘Funeral’ five years ago. I urge you to go and experience it for yourself.