Of Montreal: Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Album Review

Review by Justin Saylor, KPSU Editorial Team

Pleasing their fanbase and recruiting more with their latest obscurely titled Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer, Of Montreal break little new ground from their previous efforts. However, don’t take this as an insult against the quirky bunch. Where their Sunlandic Twins was the prom, homecoming, winter formal, and graduation all wrapped up in one party-filled album, Hissing Fauna is the freshman year experience. It is about establishment and fluidity. They’ve already carved out an entire tree worth of their unique sound, but this time it’s different. It is a concrete piece. It is a solid and consistent work all the way through,which you will either love or hate, since it’s a departure.

Their adventurous approach to wobbly and fresh sounds is compromised and consolidated with remnants of their catalog ebbing through Hissing Fauna, but certainly not overloaded. “The Past is a Grotuesque Animal” is their 12-minute Free Bird homage, with a rough edged backbeat swirled around by hypnotic synths and Kevin Barnes' voice piercing through like an altruistic hard rock singer, veering away from his patented flamboyant squelch and skip range. “Grondlandic Edit” is the catchiest track with Ladytron-inspired and monotony-infused lyrics slowly seducing us with his crescendo to his floetry of a chorus. “Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse” epitomizes the band's ability to experiment successfully with multiple layers and transitions, as well as creative titling (They produced a B-side track years back titled, “Tim, Wish You Were Born a Girl” and their last single, titled “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games).

While the party has settled down a bit, their spunk still remains fiery, just not flaming. That’s why they tour, and tour well. They journey on 60-plus venue tours and have a wide catalog of material, and more outfit changes than Cher. The first performance highlight was a kimono, while the second show opened with a wedding gown and enough glitter that would make Scissor Sisters envious. Their next stop in Portland is at the Wonder Ballroom on February 8, 2007, and their album is out now. Study up and bring your sequins.