Portugal. The Man - In The Mountain In The Cloud (13/09/2011)
Portugal. The Man are a band defined by their inability to be defined. Imagine if The Shins and MGMT had a baby who was abducted and raised by Ziggy Stardust, somewhere in another galaxy, on a planet where it rains jelly-beans. Portugal. The Man would be that child in early adolescence, filled with an fervent curiosity and a rebellious spirit that could only be satiated by the creation of some genuinely amazing music.
If there’s ever been a story to justify an indie band’s transferal from an independent label to a major label, ‘In the Mountain in the Cloud’ is that story. It may be the Alaskan band’s sixth full album in as many years, but it’s undoubtedly their best. Considering the consistently high quality of their previous releases, that’s a serious statement to make. Every moment on every past album seems to be leading up to this climax of electrifying and powerfully catchy pop anthems. With the help of producer, John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.), and mixer, Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley), the dynamism and exhilarating power of their live shows has finally been replicated on an album.
The album opens with ‘So American’, flaunting a refreshingly unconventional and unpredictable melody, something for which lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, John Gourley, has become popular for creating. “I know I’m not hopeless, I’m only helpless in the end” (‘Floating (Time Isn’t Working My Side)’) reflects the kind of frustration we all know at the inevitability of “the end”, but is somehow numbed by Gourley’s beautifully layered and soulful voice, like everything is swell again and we can continue floating through existence. It’s a gorgeous track.
There is no low point on this album. There’s not even one song that makes you think “maybe this could have been a b-side”. EVERY song is so worthy of being the lead single that it’s questionable how they ever managed to decide upon ‘Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now)’. This is a legitimate indie pop anthem. Something would rupture if you tried not to sing along. However, the same can be said for nearly every other track on the album.
The album closes with a series of broken sing-a-longs. ‘Share Me with the Sun’ shuffles onward, immersed in a musical swordfight with itself, and ‘Sleep Forever’ is probably what roses would sound like if they were burning on a sunset. Those metaphors may seem obscure and absurd, but it would be an insult to the extraordinary quality of this music to describe it through conventional means. Don’t read about; listen to it!
In a rare feat these days, ‘In the Mountain in the Cloud’ is a proper album, rather than a collection of songs. At the heart of the album are flawless pop structuring, impeccable musicianship and deliciously complex melodies, all of which can be heard pulsing through every track. It’s Michael Phelps of music. Everything is working in perfect cohesion; the epitome of health and fitness (but the musical equivalent, obviously). It’s also clearly infused with a cheeky dose of some kind of recreational psychoactive.
Portugal. The Man are so close. This may not be the album that gets them the international attention they deserve, but they are certainly bordering on something massive. They definitely have the potential to create the next truly immortal album. There is so much boundless skill and talent here that it wouldn’t be too much to expect their next album to be something akin to Dark Side of the Moon, or this generation’s OK Computer… but potentially better. They are unparalleled in today’s musical market for consistency of quality, a crown they can surely take.
Lara Moates
If there’s ever been a story to justify an indie band’s transferal from an independent label to a major label, ‘In the Mountain in the Cloud’ is that story. It may be the Alaskan band’s sixth full album in as many years, but it’s undoubtedly their best. Considering the consistently high quality of their previous releases, that’s a serious statement to make. Every moment on every past album seems to be leading up to this climax of electrifying and powerfully catchy pop anthems. With the help of producer, John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A.), and mixer, Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley), the dynamism and exhilarating power of their live shows has finally been replicated on an album.
The album opens with ‘So American’, flaunting a refreshingly unconventional and unpredictable melody, something for which lead singer, guitarist and songwriter, John Gourley, has become popular for creating. “I know I’m not hopeless, I’m only helpless in the end” (‘Floating (Time Isn’t Working My Side)’) reflects the kind of frustration we all know at the inevitability of “the end”, but is somehow numbed by Gourley’s beautifully layered and soulful voice, like everything is swell again and we can continue floating through existence. It’s a gorgeous track.
There is no low point on this album. There’s not even one song that makes you think “maybe this could have been a b-side”. EVERY song is so worthy of being the lead single that it’s questionable how they ever managed to decide upon ‘Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now)’. This is a legitimate indie pop anthem. Something would rupture if you tried not to sing along. However, the same can be said for nearly every other track on the album.
The album closes with a series of broken sing-a-longs. ‘Share Me with the Sun’ shuffles onward, immersed in a musical swordfight with itself, and ‘Sleep Forever’ is probably what roses would sound like if they were burning on a sunset. Those metaphors may seem obscure and absurd, but it would be an insult to the extraordinary quality of this music to describe it through conventional means. Don’t read about; listen to it!
In a rare feat these days, ‘In the Mountain in the Cloud’ is a proper album, rather than a collection of songs. At the heart of the album are flawless pop structuring, impeccable musicianship and deliciously complex melodies, all of which can be heard pulsing through every track. It’s Michael Phelps of music. Everything is working in perfect cohesion; the epitome of health and fitness (but the musical equivalent, obviously). It’s also clearly infused with a cheeky dose of some kind of recreational psychoactive.
Portugal. The Man are so close. This may not be the album that gets them the international attention they deserve, but they are certainly bordering on something massive. They definitely have the potential to create the next truly immortal album. There is so much boundless skill and talent here that it wouldn’t be too much to expect their next album to be something akin to Dark Side of the Moon, or this generation’s OK Computer… but potentially better. They are unparalleled in today’s musical market for consistency of quality, a crown they can surely take.
Lara Moates