MGMT

NYC’'s MGMT (pronounced "the Management”) cite Suicide and Hall & Oates as influences, and their debut, Oracular Spectacular, is as wonderfully bizarre as those two converse acts would sound together. Comprised of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, MGMT are every bit the curiosity the recent gust of press attention would like us to believe they are. There is no simple way to encapsulate their motives, as they personify music’'s ironic, trendy and experimental sides without prejudice. Needless to say, at times this album can overwhelm. For the most part, they’'re one hell of a prog act, allowing their synths and various software programs to flutter with freedom. The end result finds the Dave Fridmann-produced Oracular fully equipped with a slithery disco anthem, "Electric Feel,"” a sure-fire alt-radio (the spoofy "Time to Pretend”") and "4th Dimensional Transition,"” a cracked jam that will go down well with both fans of Yes and Of Montreal. It’'s an ambitious introduction but astonishingly, these two dudes pull it off.