Mourning Us Almost Keeps You Alive

of Montreal “Like Ashoka’s Inferno of Memory”

The past four Of Montreal albums have basically been a document of the slow, painful dissolution of Kevin Barnes’ marriage, and Aureate Gloom is the record where this fragile relationship finally collapses. It’s not as manic as Skeletal Lamping or as bitter as False Priest, or anguished like Paralytic Stalks or casually cruel like a lot of Lousy with Sylvianbriar. All of those emotions are in the mix on Aureate, but the dominant feelings are relief and regret.

“Like Ashoka’s Inferno of Memory” is the finale of the record, and seemingly of this relationship in general. It moves through several parts, rapidly cycling through feelings of disorientation, spite, rage, condescension, nostalgia, guilt, and self-pity. There are lines in this song that are among the most vicious lyrics Barnes has ever written, which is really saying something given how mean he’s been through the past run of albums. It’s brave for him to put this out there – there’s no vanity in this music, he’s not afraid to make himself appear to be the villain. This song is just as messy and complicated and agonizing as you’d expect the end of a very long relationship to be. The good news is that “Ashoka’s” ends on a fairly upbeat note, with Barnes turning against himself and wondering why “we can’t say nice things to each other,” and seeing the mess he’s made to be something he deserves. We leave him in a place where he knows he’s ruined something that was once good, but he’s finally ready to move on.

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