By Peter Quincy Ng
Following the release of Passion Pit’s uber cool and ultra slick video for “The Reeling” which literally feels like a scene ripped out of a magazine, we haven’t seen that much hype for their upcoming release Manners since Animal Collective’s critically acclaimed Merriweather Post Pavilion. Whether it is the use of a fifth-grade choir of school children singing in a song or frontman Michael Angelakos’ gleeful falsetto-singing that appears from start to finish, Manners is essentially a pop album. Fusing indie-rock sounds with synth magic, Passion Pit’s experimentation is what makes it enjoyable as it is.
Using the effect of a dying cassette, the rather oxymoronic sound of “The Reeling” never ceases to amaze or slow the momentum of its patchy sped-up or slowed-down melodies. This effect is particularly noticeable in Sleepyhead, a well-layered track of sped-up samples complimenting the falsetto shrieks of Angelakos. While outside the hook-heavy synthesizer rhythms, “Moth’s Wings” and “Let Your Love Grow Tall” on the other hand use a more traditional indie-rock approach with a slower pace, lighter and heavenly ethereal vocals and a steady drum beat. Passion Pit’s diversity in sound is what makes this album, from the beeps and booms in “Little Secrets” to the Oriental-inspired zither ornamentations of the mellow yet hook-driven “Swimming in a Flood”.
Few tracks fall short; however the title track “Make Light” does make light of the album with the high-pitched squeals of Angelakos overshadowing the intricately arranged instrumentation of the song. Despite its well-arranged synthesizers and utter joy of the album, it may prove a daunting task to listen to an entire album sung in falsetto. It’s only a matter of time whether or not we find out if Passion Pit is the next big thing, but if you’re sensitive to high-pitched noises this album is definitely not for you.
Manners is out May 18th, 2009 on Columbia Records
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