Matthew Mondanile works many jobs: besides his better known gig in “Real Estate” he does these personal jams. Compared to his last album, this one feels a bit more organic, a bit less stuffed-sounding. Each song feels like it was exposed to excessive amounts of sunshine and joy. The carefree attitude doesn’t really leave at any point throughout the album. If you’re familiar with his previous stuff, this new material shouldn’t come as a major surprise.
“In the Swing” sounds like a jaunt through a quaint seaside neighborhood. Most of the songs elicit similar reactions from me. Nostalgia is Matt’s main draw here, but I think his work is more interesting than a lot of his hypnagogic peers. For one, he infuses a great deal of soul. His recording process may be lo-fi, but it doesn’t sacrifice the quality of the song itself, like others enjoy doing.
Songs like “Sprinter” (what I used to be in high school) and the fragile “Little Window” remind me that summer isn’t that far away with this stuff coming near. “Killing Vibe” is probably one of my favorites on here, besides the obvious EP songs from “Hamilton Road”. “Porch Projector” has the worst fidelity and the most otherworldly nature to it. At times it sounds like guitar strumming being summoned from an alternative universe, one where John Fahey was famous and Garth Brooks starved to death. It is a perfect closer.
I’m glad this came out in the dead middle of winter. Ducktails will keep you warm until springtime.