Taking a solo project with a name inspired by Disney's DuckTales television series seriously might seem like a stretch, but Matt Mondanile's (the guitarist from New Jersey indie rock band Real Estate) efforts at psychedelic pop via Ducktails requires just that. As Pitchfork's Steven Hyden noted, Ducktails' third LP The Flower Lane (2013) sets itself apart from the "cozy, blithely executed indie rock comfort food that occasionally coalesced into semi-structured songs" which characterized Ducktails' first two full-length records. Instead, listeners are greeted with more streamlined songwriting and a sophisticated distillation of the instrospective pop aesthetic.
"Letter of Intent" has been singled out by various critics as the album's standout track, the result of a collaboration with various musical partners: Oneohtrix Point Never's Daniel Lopatin provided the stellar synth work, his Ford & Lopatin partner Joel Ford created the funky bassline, while Jessa Farkas of Future Shuttle and Big Troubles' Ian Drennan lend their lush vocals to the slow-burning, 80s R&B-paced nostalgic track.
In a slight twist of gender conventions, Farkas is monotonously distanced and hypnotically dreamy as she sings the track's 'stage directions', while Drennan effortlessly evokes breathless passion:
'[Brennan:]
Oh I, I will walk with youAnd you will walk with meWalking hand in handIn concrete fantasy
[Farkas:]
Follow you, you follow meTo the top and then we'll seeSwing with you, swing with meTil our heart's contentFollow you, you follow meTo the top and then we'll seeSwing with you, you swing with meLetter of intent'
Lyrics: Genius
As befitting the track's references to New York City, the accompanying video was filmed entirely in Central Park on a cold winter day, with giant bubbles and Farkas' bright red umbrella and gloves lending a dash of colour to the otherwise grey surroundings.
