MONOGOLD – “Spirit or Something” [VIDEO]

Monogold’s Spirit or Something looks great on video [MP3]

Monogold‘s “Spirit or Something” is a hot song.  The official Music Video captures its feeling perfectly.  The Softest Glow, the bands first LP (since its rebanding), is a must-listen.  Two years after their We Animal EP, their sound is driven by an ambient new-wave ethos that tastefully incorporates neo-psychedelia and electronica while retaining a distinctly organic vibe.

Video and MP3 after the bump…

Enjoy!

Spirit or Something from Monogold on Vimeo.

MP3: MONOGOLD – “Spirit or Something?”

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Sometimes less is more, as Brooklyn’s indie-pop trio Monogold proved on their 2009 EP We Animals. After years of experimenting as both a four- and five-piece, the group revamped their lineup following their 2007 album Waves. The dividends were immediate: We Animals was a huge critical success, receiving acclaim from such publications as SPIN and Deli magazine, as well as earning Monogold coveted live appearances at CMJ 2009, South by Southwest, and Canadian Music Fest.

Less than two years later, Monogold’s full-length release The Softest Glow follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, driven by an ambient new-wave ethos that tastefully incorporates neo-psychedelia and electronica while retaining a distinctly organic vibe. Unlike their synth-based contemporaries in the Brooklyn scene, Monogold fuse live drums and Keith Kelly’s distinctive guitar melodies with understated electronic elements. The resulting album is a dynamic slice of hypnotic indie pop that occasionally borders on repetitive but is sure to win Monogold their share of new devotees.

The album is bolstered by the inclusion of several memorable compositions from We Animals. The vibrant mini-song suite “Traps/Offerings” and the melodic “Feel Animal” showcase the group’s penchant for lush arrangements and singer Keith Kelly’s signature falsetto vocals. And the album’s showstopper, “Dead Sea Minerals,” sees Monogolddabbling in shoegaze in compelling fashion. Of course, that’s not to say that many of the trio’s new offerings aren’t equally stunning. The radio-ready “Glow To Sleep” is driven by an iconic synth hook and Jared Apuzzo’s energetic beats, while “Wind or Hymn” conjures up a beautiful minimalism that perfectly complements Kelly’s angelic voice.

While these attributes make The Softest Glow an unqualified triumph, the band occasionally relies too heavily on a predictable sonic formula, as evidenced by the ease with which the songs from We Animals all too seamlessly mesh with Monogold’s newer material. And the three album tracks that clock in at under two minutes, while pleasant, lack the ambition of the rest of the album and do little more than stretch The Softest Glow into full-length territory.

Monogold have honed a distinctive sound on The Softest Glow, one that carries an understated intensity within its innovative songwriting. While that’s no easy feat, it remains to be seen whether the group’s arch is sustainable over the long term. The Softest Glow is a portrait of an accomplished, ascending ensemble who have mastered their dreampop ambitions, but may need to step further outside their comfort zone to remain relevant in the future.

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MP3: MONOGOLD – “Feel Animal” (From 2009′s We Animals EP)

MP3: MONOGOLD – “Foxgloves”