MGMT

Wed 14th Apr, 2010 in Features

MGMT are ready to share their musical quirks once more with the release of their second record Congratulations. Leading the clique of cool in Brooklyn, the MGMT duo Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser are young and in their prime, once again proving that you can never be too different.

In Australia for a short visit to promote their latest record with a couple of shows in Sydney, Goldwasser cheerfully tells FasterLouder how nice Australian audiences are, “We go back to the US soon but we have had a good tour even though it was brief. It was really great to be playing club shows because the vibe is so different to larger venues, especially after playing the festival circuit on our last trip.”

After receiving such high adulation for their stellar debut Oracular Spectacular, Goldwasser admits to feelings of angst surrounding the reception that their sophomore record Congratulations will receive. “It is daunting to think that people will be listening to Congratulations and comparing the tracks to those from our previous record, but you just have to trust your own judgment and hopefully the positive comments out way the negative.”

Congratulations has divided critics, leaving audiences approaching the album with mixed feelings. After MGMT announced their decision to unveil the album in its entirety, rather than release singles, Goldwasser is weary that columnists are judging the bands movements rather than their musical capabilities. “The idea of releasing the album as a whole was to encourage people to reach their own verdict on the songs, we didn’t want people to be swayed by commercial perception and hype. In the end the concept was analysed far too much. It is upsetting when people assume that we are trying to fade into oblivion and abandon our supporters because we are experimenting with sound.”

Although not releasing singles, the track Flash Delirium was released as an album ‘teaser’, accompanied by yet another infamous and unique MGMT video clip, “Experimenting through visuals is really intriguing. We have a lot to do with their creation but with our latest songs we are getting others involved. It’s really interesting to see how another person interprets a song.”

When asked if being seen as a commercial band is something MGMT try to avoid, Goldwasser commented that being accepted on a mainstream level makes him nervous. “It is scary because the labels that come with success don’t interest us, we just do what we think is musically interesting and different, and if our music is met by a happy audience we are ecstatic.”

Goldwasser reeks of positivity when discussing the production of their latest record. “After the release of our debut we had a solid year to collate material and write new songs. It was great to just hang out and listen to music and reconnect with our focus. The album really reflects a specific time in our lives, and I think that is because we were able to use our experiences and approach the record in a more prepared fashion. It is probably the reason songs function differently and support each other differently also.”

Congratulations is different in comparison to the band’s popular debut, however MGMT still captivate with their eclectic style, maintaining their originality. Goldwasser’s favourite track off the album is Brian Eno, a tribute to the eccentric musician and producer. “It is such a fun song and we love to play it live and see people immersing themselves in its spirit.” Other title tracks include, Song for Dan Treacy and Lady Dada’s Nightmare, conveying MGMT’s knack for embracing and exposing their influences freely and confidently.

The biggest vice of inspiration for Goldwasser is old musical obscurity and strange sounds. “I love anything ambiguous. We try to keep up with the times, but we don’t get attached to any modern music that’s around. Mainly I love rediscovering older music that transends time.”

So does MGMT transcend time? Goldwasser believes they do: “If people are open to difference anything is possible.”