Dichotomania by Matt O'Leary
Dichotomania is an exercise in melodic maximalism. Noodling acoustics and vocals anchor the sound, while an assembly of midi bleeps and bloops flesh things out, adding dense layers of harmony and playful flourishes throughout.
Themes include major-key-veiled cultural critiques highlighting tribal divisions of our time between left/right, globalist/localist, etc. Other dichotomies like male/female and justice/mercy are presented with strong biblical overtones. There are diary-entry esque moments like First Fruits or Steeple and haunting softies like Joe and Oh, Divider.
It's the bedroom pop version of indie prog from the likes of The Reign of Kindo or The Dear Hunter. Influences range dramatically from Alex G to Steven Wilson, Carrie & Lowell-era Sufjan to late-aughts pop rock like House of Heroes or Coheed & Cambria.
Tracklist
| 1. | Shadow Work | 1:35 |
| 2. | Folly with Her Own Hands | 3:56 |
| 3. | Ish and Ishah | 3:39 |
| 4. | Ordinary People | 3:03 |
| 5. | Steeple | 4:03 |
| 6. | Oh, Divider | 2:03 |
| 7. | Be the Club | 1:57 |
| 8. | Gramercy | 4:16 |
| 9. | Joe | 3:51 |
| 10. | Teaching Tolerance, Living Excellence | 1:58 |
| 11. | Figs from a Thornbush | 1:51 |
| 12. | First Fruits | 3:25 |
Credits
Nina O'Leary (female vocals & lyrical contributions throughout)
Jenna Holst (violin)
Kurtis Haider (electric piano on Shadow Work)
Patrick Dobrinen (mastering)
Jocelyn Reiter (cover art)
