Of Montreal - An Eluardian Instance EP
Release Date – Jan 27th, 2009
Label – Polyvinyl
8.2
ZACH THAT:
Jon Brion, famous for crafting emotionally driven soundtracks for such films as Magnolia and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, takes a crack at reinterpreting, redefining, and remixing two tracks from Of Montreal’s latest LP, Skeletal Lamping. The EP is basically a three track offering disguised as five tracks created from two very different camps of musical genius.
The first two tracks are remixes of the track An Eluardian Instance. The song lends itself well to the concept of being remixed but the first track on the EP doesn’t offer that much in the interpretation category. Brion adds a bit more step in the songs bounce but it took me one or two listens to really notice a huge difference from the original. Then Brion offers up an acoustic remix of the same song and this track alone makes the EP well worth buying. Called First Time High (Of Chicago Acoustic Version), Brion teamed up with Nickel Creek vocalist and mandolin-player Chris Thile, who finger plucks his heart out to make this track something special. What the first track lacks in creativity, this version makes up ten fold. In fact, I find this version to be more successful than the original (which I still highly enjoy). With the spotlight solely on the vocals and acoustic guitar, I’m transported back into the Cherry Peel days long before Of Montreal found synths and bought a disco soul. When it comes to Of Montreal, I feel they can’t, and hardly do any wrong…love the new and old sound…it’s just nice to remember where they came from every once in a while and this song captures that emotion.
On tracks three through five, Brion remixes my favorite track on Skeletal Lamping: Gallery Piece. Brion’s version is the dance club take on a jam that already makes me move around like crazy. It’s a bonfire of electronic sounds, each noise popping up and randomly fighting for attention…trying to make the loudest crack. Guess what, it works. I wouldn’t say it’s the masterpiece that track two on the EP is, but unlike 90% of the remixes out there today, this one has a reason for existing. The last two tracks are throwaways featuring an extended remix and instrumental version of Gallery Piece. My problem with offering up the instrumental version is it encourages thousands of lousy remixes and mashups from far less talents than Brion. Let them have their remixes I suppose, keep everyone happy.
In the end, tracks two and three demand a listen from anyone who enjoys Of Montreal or Jon Brion. There is some wasted space on this EP, but hey, that’s what EP’s are for. If it was an album I would be critical, but this spin was incredibly fun and Brion/Of Montreal offer up one of the best tracks of ’09 so far with the acoustic version of An Eluardian Instance.
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