Matthew Mondanile has spent the last couple of years crafting what have been some of the most enjoyable examples of hypnagogic pop both as Ducktails, his mostly instrumental lo-fi solo project, and as a guitarist in Real Estate. His breezy, but emotionally effective compositions pull at the mystic chords of memory while offering a comforting and relaxed soundtrack for the present. Beginning as a post-graduate bedroom project, Ducktails' initial snippets of melody mixed into a stew of sonic experimentation grew into something more confident and alluring with each subsequent release. Over the course of two albums and numerous singles, Mondanile carved out his own unique brand of lo-fi chill that sounded both lackadaisical and learned at the same time. Songs like "Parasailing," and "Surf's Up" had more in common with Leyland Kirby than they did Washed Out or Neon Indian. Last year Mondanile offered up a series of inspired releases that found him mining even greater expanses of the experimental universe, like komische on the incredible "Screen Scene," while fine-tuning his previous blueprint and making every limited edition single he released that much more essential. So it was with great anticipation that I awaited "Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics," in fact I expected it to be one of 2011's best records. Unfortunately I was horribly wrong.To say that I am underwhelmed by "Arcade Dynamics" is an understatement. I am downright disappointed. The record basically meanders for a little over a half an hour (ten minutes of which is a pointless ambient acoustic piece that not even the most rabid fan of experimental music could justify), and goes nowhere fast. The problem, though, isn't experimentation, it's Mondanile's insistence on leaving behind his instrumental template and attempting to craft an album of breezy lo-fi acoustic sing alongs. That wouldn't be such a bad thing, but with the exception of a couple of tracks, most of the numbers here simply aren't very memorable.
The record starts out strong enough with "In The Swing," a solid track reminiscent of earlier Ducktails pieces. "Hamilton Road" follows and does not disappoint either. It's one of the sing along songs, but it's well crafted and effective, and Mondanile's voice only adds to the lazy hazy happy vibe of the piece. By this time I'm thinking this is going to be a spectacular album, but the record quickly devolves into a collection of subpar tracks that sound like so many other like-minded acts. "Sprinter," for example, isn't a horrible song, but it is entirely void of that Ducktails' magic that should set it apart from everyone else in the world. By the time the album gets to the big single "Killing The Vibe," (now staring Panda Bear!) I'm already too bored and put out to care.
There are a couple of bright spots late in the album. "Don't Make Plans" is a pleasant enough strummer that has all the makings of a great song, and maybe with a little fine tuning by Real Estate it will be, but for now it's at least above average. "Art Vandelay" is the album's truly great track. The track contains all of that which made Mondanile's music so great in the first place; dreamy lo-fi electro-acoustic soundscapes anchored by the humanity of its creator. There is an emotional ache at the center of this simple bedroom pop piece that elevates it well beyond it's humble structure, and reminds you that Ducktails is still capable of being something incredibly special. Unfortunately the track also bares the most prescient line on the album, when Mondanile sings "everyone knows that a book is hard to finish when you're not really into it," during the chorus, he is pretty much describing how I feel overall about "Arcade Dynamics."
I don't mean to sound so harsh, but dammit; Mondanile is better than this. Period. Maybe his collaboration with Panda Bear with send a few more fans his way, and that's great. I hope it does. He deserves the recognition. Just not for this record. Thankfully Ducktails refuses to remain silent, and there is likely an ep or single, or even a whole new album in the works for later this year, until then I'll just call this a misstep and move on.
"Art Vandelay"
Ducktails - Art Vandelay from Stephanie Cafarella on Vimeo.
"Killin' The Vibe" live
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