I’m Just “Illuminations” And “Flowers Of Evil”

of Montreal “Gratuitous Abysses”

I’ve been following Kevin Barnes’ career closely for about 12 years now, and in some ways it’s like being heavily invested in a hysterical psychedelic soap opera starring someone I feel like I know extremely well but have only ever met in passing. Innocence Reaches is a strange record, mainly in that Barnes’ stated goal of making something open-hearted and positive fizzles out after the first couple tracks, and then “Gratuitous Abysses” comes along and throws the rest of the album off on a very different set of textures and themes, most of which won’t be surprising to fans of post-False Priest of Montreal.

“Gratuitous Abysses” mainly concerns Barnes’ struggles with establishing a new relationship with his ex-wife, and his fears about over-mythologizing their past while worrying that they’ve become boring. This fear of being boring and predictable comes up at other points in the record too, and it’s both sad and funny that he’s doing everything but straight-up declaring himself to be a messy bitch who lives for drama. (Not sure how he feels about robbery or fraud, though.)

There are other songs on Innocence Reaches that address other relationships and flings since he’s been divorced, but the songs that are most obviously about his marriage are the most potent. Maybe it’s because Barnes’ darkest sentiments have become so blunt over the years, and he’s so merciless in the way he picks at his own flaws, and those of other people. It’s very compelling to me, and it’s particularly difficult when I relate to what he’s saying. He’s holding a mirror up to himself, but a lot of the times you just see the worst of yourself in the reflection.

Buy it from Amazon.