Review Summary: Hooky, fun, and full of pep, Pangaea is an excellent alternative to productivity.
I heard Broken Social Scene for the first time a few years back, having heard "Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl" on the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack and being pulled into its sonic atmosphere. I loved the song more than anything else I was listening to at the time, and it brought me into the world of Canadian indie music.
That being said, none of Broken Social Scene's other songs sounded quite the same. They were all wonderful and groovy, but they weren't as groovy as "Anthems" was crushing, and because of that, You Forgot It In People remains the only BSS album in circulation on my CD player.
If you were like me, then Acollective's Pangaea is your dream album.
Pangaea immediately draws you in with a subdued electronic pulse and crackling vocals that bring to mind alt-J's recent musical direction. Offbeat drumming and staticky stabs, leading to a sudden explosion of sonic bliss, make "OTM" an engaging opener that gives you a taste for what Acollective brings to the table and really sets the stage for the rest of the album. The songs here are all very building and textured, albeit so wide in genre scope that I hesitate to describe Acollective as anything but "alternative".
And yet, despite their almost unbelievable grasp of musical variety, they can still write damn good pop songs. "Breakapart" is a bluesy, hooky number that demanded a repeat listen immediately after ending. The choruses, lined with crunchy guitars, soaked in "ooh"s and peppered with frontman Idan Rabinovici's stabbing "ha ha ha"s, grow in urgency and demand attention.
Upon listening to "Breakapart", I was positive I'd determined the album's key single. How could anything be more engaging, more building, and more than a song that blends a sampled jazz intro, garage rock grooves, electronically-enhanced chorus insanity, and still manages to be radio friendly?
"Happiest of All Memorial Days" was more than happy to answer that question for me. Rabinovici's subtle falsetto vocals, coupled with the gentle piano pulse that serves as the heartbeat of the song, are layered over with electronic stabs, soaring guitar leads, marching band drums, and determined horns, bringing to mind not only Broken Social Scene's "Anthems" but also My Chemical Romance's "Welcome To The Black Parade". The vocals and lyrics here are quite strong as well; the final chorus's final line is delivered with heartbreaking intensity.
Now this is where the album starts to really get interesting. In many ways, "Memorial Days" is the "Day In The Life" of Pangaea; a song that just surpasses everything that came before it and stays with you for the rest of the day. Because of this, it would be easy to question its placement; it's good enough to be a closer, and there's no interlude or palate cleanser before the indie hooks of "FiNE". Interestingly enough, I never found myself thinking twice.
This album should not work. There is no logical explanation for how pulsing electro beats can alternate with alt-rock hooks, subdued piano ballads, and sampled hip-hop beats and still maintain coherency and the undivided attention of the listener.
The album only slips up towards the very end. Don't get me wrong, there's no filler here, but the pairing of "We Never" and "Lock It" as ending tracks put me a little off. "Lock It" is a great closer, but something about it feels very out of place, which is especially strange on an album that thrives on the out of place. While Acollective has found this perfect mesh of genre and texture, I definitely think they could have ended on a slightly stronger note.
All things considered, I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better contender for album of the year. There's something for everyone; pop, rock, electronica, and heartbreaking piano all combine to create a consistently engaging blend of sonic bliss. I can't stop listening.
Key tracks:
Breakapart
Happiest of All Memorial Days
Beating Heart Cadavers
