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Right off the bat, you can tell that Passion Pit’s new album, ‘Gossamer’ is a progression from 2009’s ‘Manners’. The Electro-pop band from Boston have had a turbulent time of late; cancelling a string of dates on their American tour for the sake of lead singer Micael Angelakos’ “mental health”. However the tour will continue in Chicago in the lead up to release of the new album.
Album Opener ‘Take A Walk’ is notably different to say, ‘Little Secrets’ or ‘Sleepyhead’, but it carries the same sound; it’s still thundering electronics and wailing falsetto, but this time it’s a little more contained. ‘I’ll Be Alright’, however, could have been lifted straight from ‘Manners’. The recent revelations of Angelakos’ mental health have cast a new light on the album, and it is clear to see that it’s a hugely (and honourably) confessional track.
‘Constant Conversations’ is about as soulful and high pitched as electro-pop can get, but Angelos’ chipmunk-esque voice makes it more R Kelly than Al Green. Moving through the album though, we are treated again and again, be it the huge anthemic crush of ‘Hideaway’ or the stripped-back accapella sound of ‘Two Veils to Hide My Face’. Album closer ‘Where We Belong’ is a huge orchestral delight with rolling drums and seemingly endless strings.
As in ‘Manners’, ‘Gossamer’ loses its way here and there, and rather than the usual sparkling, intricate pop gems, they do a bit too much and you get a wall of white noise. That can really only be said about a couple of tracks, and ultimately ‘Gossamer’ is a delight to behold; it’s even more soaring and triumphant than ‘Manners’, and a clear musical progression is completely audible. In addition, Angelakos’ lyrics smash any preconceptions that this is light and shallow pop music.
