Passion Pit – Gossamer album review

The nice thing with writing for a site like MVRemix is the opportunity to listen to music that I wouldn’t normally choose for myself. A prime example of this is Passion Pit’s Gossamer. Passion Pit are not a band that I would naturally gravitate towards. Yet here I am, listening and despite my inclination… I’m really enjoying.

Gossamer contains all of the high and at times frantic energy that fans have come to expect from The Pit. The rhythms are catchy and driving, the vocals( both leads and harmonies) are well blended, and the structure of the songs are satisfying. Each song effortlessly launches itself out of the speakers and forces a primal need to move along in the listener.

With the opening track, Take A Walk, you can almost be fooled into thinking that we are listening to a softer and more refined Passion Pit. The song sets the tone for the album with its themes of exploring emotional healing and growth and the tempo seems to reflect this discovery. It acts as an introduction to all that is to come and does so in a catch and inviting manner. I’ll Be Alright, however is the second song and the band seems to feel that they can take off the kid gloves. Here we are exposed the frenetic musical sensibilities of Passion Pit. The song is reminiscent of their previous hit Sleepyhead and is a frenzy of sound and vocal sampling. Lyrically, the song pushes the music into the realm of genius. “You can go if you want to, I’ll be alright” they sing out…and in this maelstrom of musical fury you can’t help but believe them.

The insanity and genius of this album is spread across the entire tracklist. Mirrored Sea dispenses with any preamble and hits the ground running. Hideaway is loud and honest. The heavily reverbed vocals of It’s Not My Fault, I’m Happy are engaging and sit comfortably amongst the instrumental experiment that surrounds it.

Gossamer, quite simply, is an incredible work of art. Passion Pit have proven that they are more than just a band that can only hit success once. Their sophomore release is worth the wait for their fans and worth the discovery for those that have not yet experienced…well…the craziness that is Passion Pit.