As the album cover unfolds to create a sprawling, psychedelic cut-out - similar to a pop-up book - you can't help but think this is a man with too much time on his hands, or too many thoughts plaguing his head.
This is confirmed as you make your way through the 15-track record, which seems twice as long, as each song jumps between tempos and tones to sound like an entirely new track.
At times fascinating - like the haunting
Touched Something
's
Hollow
and the meandering disco of
Gallery Piece
- the record swings between melodic intrigue and a daunting cacophony of mad noise.
Combining obscure, sexually-charged lyrics with Barnes' soaring falsetto harmonies, Of Montreal make the Scissor Sisters seem like dull Midwestern conservatives. But too often the story-like songs come across as parody, sounding like an X-rated version of Flight of the Conchords.
There are exquisite moments buried in
Skeletal Lamping
, and no doubt some will consider it genius from beginning to end. But others will find it all a bit much.
Joanna Hunkin
