Memory Tapes - Seek Magic (101 Distribution)

When I first stumbled upon “Memory Tapes,” something struck a chord in my brain, especially when I saw the name “Dayve Hawk.” I was reading reading about a “Yeasayer” remix in none other than SPIN magazine. After some fast internet research, it appeared that the ex-Hail Social front man (and one of my local Philly favorites) has had some success with “Memory Tapes,” after disbanding the latter. Apparently, while guys like me were enjoying the last of the “Hail Social” records, Hawk was beat mining in the laboratory; making remixes of indie rock’s finest under the surnames “Weird Tapes,” and “Memory Cassette.”

“Memory Tapes,” is his combined effort, and it looks like he is doing well. Checking in on his myspace page the past few months, I see he has been all over the world, from SXSW to various stops throughout Europe, pretty impressive for a guy whom I hear does not really enjoy touring in the least bit. With help from the underground epic dance smash, “Bicycle, ”the second track from “Seek Magic,” Hawk takes you where Hail Social left off. It’s harmonized, droning, yet, desperate vocals radiate over melodic synths, percussive beats, and guitar one liners.

This 8 song album takes you to a crowded dance-floor, perhaps somewhere in France, trying to remember who put what in your drink, and not giving a fuck until the next day when you wake up. The guitar hooks are straight off of a New Order/Cure vinyl platter, but I am sucker for them, so I will continue to eat, thank you very much.

If you were looking for more indie-pop structured songwriting with a hint of synthpop/dancerock like his last works, “Seek Magic,” may not be for you. “Bicycle,” is the strongest and most well rounded song on the album, which focuses on layered melodies, and lots of them, and of course huge house beats and great breakdowns. The vocals are still there from before, but it’s more about tripping out in outer space, than that song you can sing a long too on a late night bike ride through the hipster alleys of Fishtown, U.S.A.

I must admit, “Seek Magic,” is growing on me, and this guy always seems to impress me in one way or another.

The Score:  6 out of 10 ringing bells

The Math:  a darker Hail Social + dance beats – less structured songwriting = “Seek Magic”

Of Montreal - False Priest (Polyvinyl)

Kevin Barnes returns in all of his "purple one" obsessed glory, and for that I can't complain. It is not like the "Of Montreal" front man/principal songwriter/album performer is doing a Prince impersonation like Lenny Kravitz would, I truly believe he is the indie-rock second coming to the purple throne and I welcome him with open arms. Take Prince's vocal harmonies and synthy instrumentation, add some weird subject matter, but subtract all of the Jesus nonsense and you may have a better updated version. Sorry buddy, Prince, but I LUV Of Montreal, and if you haven't guessed where my head has been in my early "life in pastel" years, I too, have gone through my own Prince obsessions.

Now on to, "False Priest," titled from a lyric off their last effort (Skeletal Lamping), gets the party started from the opening line "I see you, girlfriend," and a quick drum fill into the album opener, "I Feel Ya' Strutter." A great opening track, with its Bowie-esque versus, Queen-esque breakdowns, and sing-a-long-chorus. You cannot help to hope that we may have another "Sunlandic Twins" or "Hissing Fauna" record here, especially after the last progressive trip the band took us on w/Skeletal. "Our Riotous Defects" follows, and Barnes chats his way through the rhyme-y versus about a "crazy girl" which becomes the howling chorus, layered with the Barnes's signature multiple harmonies. "Couquet Couquette," is next track, and the album single, going back to rock territory and I like it, however, it wouldn't be my choice for the single. There are so many better tunes on this record.

"Enemy Gene" takes you to a lounge somewhere beyond middle Earth, an extremely catchy and shared chorus with help on vocals by "Janel Monae." "Sex Karma" is another track with an extremely catchy chorus, and much more pop sensibility than I've heard from them in awhile, but I kind of get lost in the versus. They are a little boring and bleak and I hate to say it but "Solange Knowles," yes her, (and yes I am shocked too) saves the song on the chorus with yet another dual call and response vocal trade off with Barnes. Probably, my favorite tune is the odd time,  new wave rock tune "Famine Affair." Sending nods to "the Cars," during the verse, and a chunky power chord chorus, taking the listener even further to another signature Of Montreal beautifully melodic breakdown, and back to another verse for another go around. This is great tune.

The album's weaker songs "Like a Tourist," or the funky slap bass of "Girl named Hello," the dreary piano ballad "Casualty of You," just don't go anywhere exciting, but aren't un-listenable. Even on the album finale "You Do Mutilate," where "1999/Controversy Prince" is channeled yet again, Barnes's recited lines do border to walk the line of being "preachy," but for an artsy band with an artsy guy, I'm not bothered. "False Priest," definitely lands in my top 5 of their extensive catalog, and that is saying a lot.

The Score: 8 out 10 bells
The Math: Hissing Fauna x Skeletal Lamping - the mathematics + guest females = False Priest