When faced with the impossibly difficult task of having to follow up one of the finest albums of the decade, Ray LaMontagne soldiered on through the release of Part Of The Light by shamelessly embracing the cosmic stardust of its predecessor, his criminally overlooked 2016 Ouroboros album. Stereotypically doomed to the clichéd fate of an album which will most likely be discovered in 20-30 years time by music geeks and hipsters alike when it will be far too late to be of any practical use to anyone with a stake in its success, Ouroboros set the bar high. Much of what works throughout 46 minutes of Part Of The Light is a result of sounding like a seamless continuation of its predecessor. Had Ouroboros originally been conceived as a double album it could easily have absorbed all 9 of Part Of The Light’s tracks.
Like Ouroboros LaMontagne’s latest combines late 60s electric spatial groove with an early 70s acoustic pastoral vibe reminiscent of the early records by Bruce Cockburn, Nick Drake and Donovan during his decade shifting transitional period (Open Road, HMS Donovan, Cosmic Wheels and the transcendental Essence To Essence album).
Throughout Part Of The Light LaMontagne openly embraces big dynamic full band production values. Assembling a stellar cast of 7 players to realize the grand scope of his vision, LaMontagne’s septet features no less than three guitar players (himself, Seth Kauffman, Carl Broemel) drums (Dave Givan) bass (John Stirratt) various keyboards, pianos, organs and synthesizer (Bo Koster and Kevin Rattermann). Think Gene Clark’s No Other without the cocaine and excess, however difficult that may be, mixed with a dash of Father John Misty without the acidic bitterness and complaining.
Melodically reminiscent of the softer sides from Harry Nilsson as well as George Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity”, “Something” and Paul Simon’s “The Only Living Boy In New York” certain aspects of LaMontagne’s latest hint at some of the prettiest and most vulnerable moments of the John Lennon songbook with shades of “Across The Universe”, “Julia”, “Love”, “Look At Me” and “How” interwoven throughout.
While mostly mining strains of mellow melodic gold, Part Of The Light periodically explodes with thunderbolts of delightfully jarring psychedelic rage, trippy 60s flashbacks to a Fillmore dream bill mashing interstellar Pink Floyd freak outs with Big Brother And The Holding Company acid guitar riffs. Fittingly, LaMontagne’s opus ends with a flourish of “Goodbye Blue Sky”, intended perhaps as a not so subtle nod to just one of the many muses and mentors who continue to inform LaMontagne on his quest to capture the perfect dream.
Rating 8.5/10
Star Rating 4/5
2018 Song Of The Day Club Album Review 34/52