Monday, December 5, 2011
Music news 'Wintered Debts' dignifies of Montreal's strut
Posted by Chad Radford @ChadRad on Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 3:54 PM
The album was created, performed (mostly), and produced by longstanding mastermind Kevin Barnes, who’s been known to take the lone gunman route from time to time. For this album he holed up in his own Sunlandic Studios in Athens, Ga., and later mixed the record at Chase Park Transduction with engineer Drew Vandenberg (Deerhunter, Toro y Moi, Futurebirds, the Whigs, Drive-By Truckers).
"Wintered Debts" takes a long, first look at where Barnes’ head is these days, and judging by this song he’s uncovered a new, slightly dark and endlessly perplexing layer of his psyche to explore. Sounds like his MO, right?
Here Barnes switches into “Songwriter with a capital S mode,” at times, but there are a lot of fugue-like moments that unfold during “Wintered Debts’” seven-minute+ run. Elements of country, ’60s rock and subtle touches of reeling minimalism collide here, instilling icy, modern classical inclinations with a cozy, modern pop vernacular.
There's also an orchestral element at work throughout Paralytic Stalks, packed with all sorts of strings and exotic instruments. A quick glance through the album’s liner notes reveals that a handful of players contributed to the album:
Strings and Zith Er performed by Kishi Bashi
String arrangements & additional production by Kishi Bashi
Woodwinds & brass performed & arranged by Zac Cowell
Harp - Martha Cook Oboe - Christa Robinson Cello - Yoed Nir Upright Bass - Mike Savino Pedal Steel - Bob Parins Dulcimer - Max ZT Drums - Matt Chamberlain & Clayton Rychlik
Paralytic Stalks will arrive in the standard formats via Polyvinyl, CD, 2xLP, and mp3. There’s also a cassette tape that’s hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies, coming down the pike from Joyful Noise as well.
Unless this is some sort of Rosetta Stone it’s difficult to tell where the album could go from here. There are a lot of ideas packed into this epic number. There’s also a delicately refined approach to it all that's almost reminiscent of Hissing Fauna …, without that icky feeling. It’s also not like anything Barnes has done before, and what’s really interesting about “Wintered Debts” is that it sheds the bold flamboyance of False Priest for a more reserved and reflective voice, bestowing Barnes' once ultra-stylized strut with a renewed sense of dignity and depth.
Track list:
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”
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