Ducktails
Ridgewood, NJ
Ariel Pink, Panda Bear, Real Estate
There is a warmth and simplicity that washes over you as Ducktails home recordings meander through the backwoods of New Jersey, recalling those gentle summers of youth, days spent chasing fireflies and swimming in the neighbor's pool while blissfully unaware of the passage of time.
Ducktails is the solo/side project of Real Estate guitarist Matthew Mondanile. After finishing college in Massachusetts, and a subsequent breakup with his girlfriend, Matthew moved back into his parents house in New Jersey and began recording songs in their basement, pumping out several recordings of lo-fi, guitar driven indie music. He employs flange effects on the live, and programmed, drum tracks, but it's his emphasis on individual guitar note runs played over strummed chords that provides the music’s signature sound. The tremolo guitar and buzzing synth lines harken back to 60's folk-psych music, but the plain-spoken voice and upbeat song structures firmly root Ducktails songs in the pop genre. The music remains understated, balancing instrumental digressions with Mondanile's stream-of-consciousness songwriting that doesn't particularly follow the traditional verse-chorus structure.
Plop down on your front porch swing, twist open a soda pop, and let Ducktails ruminations fill your mind.
Definitely like this – perfect for a summer day. I might be a bit biased though as I grew up in NJ only a few towns over from Ridgewood…but regardless, I’m looking forward to hearing more from Ducktails.
I couldn’t agree more Michelle and I’ve only been to Princeton, NJ once!
[...] lo-fi rockers Titus Andronicus) and lead guitarist Matthew Mondanile (who’s side project is Ducktails), as well as, Alex Bleeker on bass and Etienne Duguay on drums. They previously released a [...]
[...] feat. Lil B – “Hungry Hearts” (Skeet Skeet Remix) via RCRD LBL Ducktails – “Art Vandelay” via mySpoonful Eli Escobar feat. Nomi Ruiz – “Desire” (Eli’s Re-Work) via [...]