This is not an album to dance to. The down-tempo, dubbed-out melodies and beats found in Unsuspecting are more likely to induce intense cerebration than intense rug-cutting. However, that’s not to say that Monta at Odds is groove-less. Unsuspecting is actually a re-release of the Kansas City electronica group’s 2005 record of the same name. The 2011 version comes complete with spiffy new artwork, and four remixes of "Disappointment". The facelift is welcomed, and the tracks have not gone stale.
Monta at Odds consists of Dedric and Delaney Moore and their band of merry men. The lineup changes around, but the two-brained monster continues to rollout abstract, shifty vibes, led by the brothers Moore.
Highlights of Unsuspecting include "Last Day In Istanbul", which features audio recorded by Delaney on a trip to, well, Istanbul. The conversation, distorted of course, is laid over a drifting, meandering melody that is impossible to lock onto. Other tracks, like "Discard" and "Slwpoki" slide into a cadence that is both heavy enough to make an impact, and light enough not to feel cumbersome. Brushed snares, directionless keys, melancholy guitars and weaving string pads combine throughout the album to make a sound that is both unique and familiar.
The album can become a bit under-the-radar. The listening experience is like being submerged in water. Sounds are muted, the low end becomes prominent, and it’s easy to forget you’re listening to anything at all. But is that really a bad thing? Unsuspecting is absorbed through the ears and may make roost in the brain. It’s the perfect soundtrack to an uneventful dusk.
MP3 Stream: "Slwpoki"
