The Lighthouse And The Whaler - Mont Royal

Mont Royal (II)

Die zweite Platte mit dem Titel "Mont Royal" stammt von alten Bekannten, die fast schon ein wenig in Vergessenheit geraten sind, denn seit ihrem letzten Album "This Is An Adventure" ließen The Lighthouse And The Whalers drei Jahre nichts von sich hören.

Das aus Cleveland, Ohio, stammende Quartett besteht aus den Brüdern Michael und Matthew LoPresti sowie Mark Porostosky und Ryan Walker. "Mont Royal" ist ihr mittlerweile drittes Album, dessen 10 Titel Michael LoPresti im Sommer 2014 komponierte. Aufgenommen wurde das Album mit dem Produzenten Marcus Paquin (Stars, Arcade Fire, Local Natives) innerhalb von sechs Wochen in Montreal und er Titel wurde gewählt, weil die Band während der Aufnahmezeit in einer Straße dieses Namens lebte. Es ist das erste Album, das die Band über Roll Call Records veröffentlicht, jedoch ist leider noch keine Vinyl-Version in Sicht.

"Mont Royal" verbindet vertrackten Indiepop, wie in die Local Natives zuletzt und Arcade Fire früher spielten, mit Synthie-Klängen, die einen an die 80er Jahre oder aktuell M83 oder den stilistischen Wandel bei den Shout Out Louds denken lassen. Bei "This Is An Adventure" zückte ich das Kärtchen mit der 8 Punkte-Wertung, das dürfte diesmal ähnlich aussehen. Bei "This Is An Adventure" hielten sich die anderen Plattenrichter merklich zurück, das ändert sich hoffentlich bei "Mont Royal".

Ohio-grown The Lighthouse and the Whaler's Mont Royal sounds similar at times to Band of Horses, with hints of Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues. It changes directions slightly on the sixth track, adding a flavor akin to some of The National's output. Recalling without replicating many great albums, it's a welcome playlist addition. 

(Under The Radar)

“In Motion” opens up Mont Royal with rich guitar chords and passionate vocals. The idea of pushing on despite darkness or hard times comes to mind with the ebb and flow of the song. “I Want To Feel Alive” is powerful, with its orchestral arrangements and elevating tempo. LoPresti persuasively belts out the line, “I want to feel alive” numerous times to get the point across. There’s an incredible amount of conviction and fortitude in his voice making the listener feel the exact same way he does. “Glory” is that obligatory track on these type of albums. That track that has the vocalist chanting “oh, oh, oooooohs,” but we like these songs for a reason. There’s heart and soul here. It’s spotlessly structured, with light drum beats and opulent guitars to accompany the vocals.  The fourth track, “Senses,” adds some synth and feels more upbeat. It’s more of a dance-rock track. The fast guitars and infectious beats change the feel of the record momentarily, however, it still makes a strong contribution to the album. The halfway point of the ten-track record is “We Aren’t Who We Thought We Are.” This harrowing gem is calm as still water as it slips into the listener’s mind.

At this point in the record, it comes as no surprise that we are bestowed another killer track known as “Closer.” It’s the kind of song that will get you excited about something again. You’ll feel revitalized with the crisp sounds and continuous momentum that the song carries throughout its course. “Old World” offers plenty to connect with soothing melodies and a delightfully open sound. As the listener comes down to the wire on Mont Royal, the experience has been a memorable one to say the least. The final bow is the track “We Are Infinite.” This slow-tempo, reflective tune enlightens listeners on various levels. The marvelous build up with the haunting vocals is painstakingly crafted. The emotional gravity of “We Are Infinite” is unparalleled as this tranquil jam makes you ponder everything you’re up against. Mont Royal is an album that let’s you take a step back to take a look at everything and anything that matters.

(Best New Bands)