Review: Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? by Of Montreal

I remember the first time I ever heard of Of Montreal. It was around 11:30 at night and I was a television show that plays indie and underground music videos. "Wrath Pinned To The Mist And Other Games" came on. I was rather confused about it, I didn't know if I liked it. I downloaded it anyways, and over time, I gathered more song and gathered more interest. So, when I heard Of Montreal was releasing a new album, I was moderately excited. I wasn't jumping out of my skin or anything.
So, it comes out and I get ahold of it. I was expecting a sugary fairytale of poppy indie songs. I must say I was surprised at first. In the sense of the overall sound, it is what you'd think Of Montreal would do. Lot's of electronics and high vocals. But everything about this is album is some much darker than The Sunlandic Twins or Satanic Panic In The Attic. The synths are more grating, and the vocals is more pleading. 'Twas not surprising when I heard it was based around Kevin Barnes' (lead singer, writer) divorce. Hissing Fauna follows Kevin's transition from his old self to Georgie Fruit, a transsexual partying funk-machine. It adds to the dark feeling of the music, and the sombre lyrics.
The first half of the album has to do with the divorce and Kevin's depression. The second half is all about Georgie Fruit's exploits. The first half is all dark and sad writing, that is contrasted with poppy synths. It adds a nice unsettling feeling. The second half has more poppy synth goodness, but very funky. I mean, the funks been turned up to 11. In between the two opposite parts is a 11 minutes, 52 second long, claustrophobic masterpiece that documents the change from Kevin to Georgie. "The Past Is A Grotesque Animal" is where we hear the best of Of Montreal's newest form. The vocals are so full of pain and the backround music just keeps eating away at you. The 11 minutes goes by quickly because the song never becomes boring or irritating. Another standout track for me is one that people rarely talk about. "We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling" it flows directly in from the previous song, and it takes the whole album back to the original feel of the first half. It's almost a reference to the whole album.
And when the last song fades out into silence, you get this feeling of satisfaction. Hissing Fauna is a genius album that left me wanting more. It made more crave some more synth solos like in "The Past Is A Grotesque Animal", or more happy sounding songs about antidepressants like "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse", or even the unbridled funk of "Labrinthian Pomp". Unlike before, I am sitting at my computer waiting for any news of a new album.
Rating: 4/5
-Lucas Thurston