Review Summary: Where's my rainbow?
Fun is a tough sell. It can be discouraging to approach a piece of music and, despite your efforts to analyze, have “fun” be your thesis. It can lead one to pin some undercutting concept to an album that doesn’t really
need one.
The Air Conditioned Nightmare, the newest effort from Montreal-based indie-electronic-oddball act Doldrums, has me stumped. Bandleader Airick Woodhead’s sultry, genderless vocals seem to feed off of the chaos with delight, amused at my hesitance as he leads me through a whirlwind bender. If Doldrums have a modus operandi, it’s embracing reckless abandon. At first, Woodhead’s words on the second track, “Blow Away” -
"get out or you get weird" - serve as cautionary tips; but, as the album progresses, they act as an open invitation. “Hotfoot”, the explosive opener, exemplifies throwing caution to the wind, forgoing any regrets, and relishing the little failures as successes in their own right - it’s a
for every door that closes, another one opens attitude. Or, perhaps more specifically, it’s an
I’ll be a winner on my own terms attitude, even if it means rolling in the mud where the interesting folk reside.
“Hotfoot”, with its thick, bouncy, addictive synths paired with Airick’s playful flair, would be the album highlight if not for “Loops”. With twitchy hi-hats, invigorating rhythms, and the strongest vocals present, "Loops" serves as a mid-album climax, demonstrating what Doldrums have to offer in terms of eclectic production. “My Friend Simjen” is bizarre, with percussion scissoring through the air, rapid, crunchy bass, and a rather unconventional relationship with Woodhead’s friend Simjen (origins: unknown). The scornful tone is tongue-in-cheek, bounding off of Airick’s deadpanned breakup speech. Top-to-bottom,
The Air Conditioned Nightmare is an anthem of skewed priorities and the ensuing focal shift towards something more inviting. If penultimate track “Industry City” is something to go by, it’s a shift towards a willful disconnect, escaping the trappings of a rat race. While the lyrics are potent, they aren’t pushy, and you’re free to explore every crack and crevasse at your leisure - or, skate on the surface without a care.
Despite several engaging numbers,
The Air Conditioned Nightmare is a demanding listen at times. Compared to earlier, higher-energy tracks, the latter half starts to peter off - a shame, given the meticulous, diverse range of instrumentation. Finisher “Closer 2 U” feels groggy and dull, even with the attention to detail. The vocal skips and skittering synths combined with Woodhead’s uncharacteristically tepid singing make for a half-hearted conclusion to Doldrums' vibrant mixture of nightly bangers and chilled-out morning anthems. Indeed,
The Air Conditioned Nightmare seems unaffected by any specific time, with an unkempt vibe similar to rolling out of bed and facing the day with bravado, as though the rave never ended. The somber tone of “Closer 2 U” implies it has, and, as a result, calls to mind the idea of rearranging an album’s progression to suit one’s own goals, like a sort of alternate ending. It’s commendable in a weird way, as though the impact of the album motivates one to change their interpretation of it. It’s worth something - it’s worth repeating - it’s worth disconnecting - it's fun.
