The indie rock band from Ridgewood, NJ, Ducktails' latest release on the Domino label The Flower Lane arrives January 29 in the U.S. and January 28 in the UK. Their show Wednesday, January 23, at Le Poisson Rouge in Manhattan will be a record release event that will include a 50 minute set by the band to be webcast live on Pitchfork.tv.
Ducktails was originally a solo side project from Ridgewood alt-rockers Real Estate's guitarist Matt Mondanile. The new release features members of yet another Ridgewood band, Big Troubles. They also perform with Monadanile, as the new 5 piece Ducktails. Other guest artists on the album include: Jessa Farkas, Sam Mehran, Madeline Follin, Daniel Lopatin, Joel Ford, Al Carlson and Real Estate's Martin Courtney.
The Flower Lane is an amalgamation of sounds and influences from the '70s and '80s that manages to please with an understated charm. Light and clean production is the order of the day throughout. Keyboard and guitar backing tracks recall the early '70s sounds of Todd Rundgren here (the title track 'The Flower Lane') and '80s Brit synth pop bands there (Letter of Intent).
Leader Mondanile handles most of the lead vocals and lends an indie inflection to tunes like 'Ivy Covered House' which recalls light pop/rock from the late '60s or early '70s. Jessa Farkas ( of Future Shuttle) and Ian Drennan (of Big Troubles) provide the vocals on 'Letter of Intent.'
Madeline Follin of Cults, duets with Mondanile on 'Sedan Magic' which is a personal favorite.
With a fully realized album filled with tracks that go from atmospheric to hook-laden, and a European tour coming right up, Ducktails seems to be less of a side project and more of a major act.
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