RAY LAMONTAGNE
Ray LaMontagne Credit:Brian Stowell
Ray LaMontagne croons in raspy echoes over dreamy drumbeats and electric guitar along with haunting background vocals on Ouroboros. His sixth album travels even further into the expansive, introspective psychedelic universe of the 70s than 2014’s Supernova.
It was 2004’s title track “Trouble” that put LaMontagne on my radar. He followed up with 2008’s Gossip in the Grain and 2010’s God Willin’ the Creek Don’t Rise. The albums were acoustic-guitar-harmonica-laden American folk rock, giving us a classic alternative–reminding us that in a world of pop starlets, we still crave an Adele, a Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, a Leon Bridges, a Ray LaMontagne. (No offense to Brittney Spears or Taylor Swift.)
LaMontagne expands the contemporary soundscape by pulling the past into the present and somehow evoking a feeling of forever. He does the same with Ouroboros but this time is less like rolling down a lonely highway or smoking weed and dancing with your lover. There is less of a grasp on tangible moments and more of an existential acid trip. Even the title invites contemplation on the nature of the self and the universe. The ouroboros is an ancient symbol for infinite regeneration crossing cultural mythologies depicted by a serpent in a circle closed by the creature’s mouth holding its own tail. The idea that as soon as something ends it will begin again survives in Nietzsche’s concept of Eternal Return.
He presented the idea that we should not live our lives as if we only had one to live, but that we should live out our lives as if we were going to live out the same existence over and over again for eternity. Again, forever, gives a little more gravity to our choices, but imbues life with less fleeting meaning for ourselves. LaMontagne seems invested in this search for meaning through his music. In “Hey, No Pressure,” LaMontagne sings “Anything you want your life to mean, it can mean.” Sounds liberating— or like a shit ton of responsibility.
But if I had to choose what to do Saturday, August 13 based on the prospect of living it over again for eternity, I’m fairly certain I would like to do it at the Fillmore in Miami Beach to see Ray LaMontagne. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets at www.livenation.com.
~ Jessica Chesler
