With the success of his band Real Estate, it's amazing Matt Mondanile found time for another Ducktails record, let alone one as well formed as The Flower Lane. But this effort isn't nearly the solo project it once was. Instead, it's a group project, with New Jersey band Big Troubles lending a big hand.
The results show in the polish of the title song and "Timothy Shy," which both expand on the paisley-rock aesthetic of 2010's Arcade Dynamics. But The Flower Lane hits its most compelling notes when things lean toward '70s soft rock. The rubbery yacht-funk of "Assistant Director" wobbles along, unfazed by the ambient bleeps surrounding it or the howling guitar solo sneaking up from behind. "Letter of Intent" bubbles atop slinky vocals and a nimble bassline from Joel Ford, and spacey synths from Oneohtrix Point Never's Daniel Lopatin.
